Neurochemistry of identified motoneurons of the tensor tympani muscle in rat middle ear

The objective of the present study was to identify efferent and afferent transmitters of motoneurons of the tensor tympani muscle (MoTTM) to gain more insight into the neuronal regulation of the muscle. To identify MoTTM, we injected the fluorescent neuronal tracer Fluoro-Gold (FG) into the muscle after preparation of the middle ear in adult rats. Upon terminal uptake and retrograde neuronal transport, we observed FG in neurons located lateral and ventrolateral to the motor trigeminal nucleus ipsilateral to the injection site. Immunohistochemical studies of these motoneurons showed that apparently all contained choline acetyltransferase, demonstrating their motoneuronal character. Different portions of these cell bodies were immunoreactive to bombesin (33%), cholecystokinin (37%), endorphin (100%), leu-enkephalin (25%) or neuronal nitric oxide synthase (32%). MoTTM containing calcitonin gene-related peptide, tyrosine hydroxylase, substance P, neuropeptide Y or serotonin were not found. While calcitonin gene-related peptide was not detected in the region under study, nerve fibers immunoreactive to tyrosine hydroxylase, substance P, neuropeptide Y or serotonin were observed in close spatial relationship to MoTTM, suggesting that these neurons are under aminergic and neuropeptidergic influence. Our results demonstrating the neurochemistry of motoneuron input and output of the rat tensor tympany muscle may prove useful also for the general understanding of motoneuron function and regulation.