Presence of Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide (CGRP) and Substance P (SP) Immunoreactivity in Intraepidermal Free Nerve Endings of Cat Skin

Abstract

Immunocytochemistry against neuropeptides contained within primary afferent neurons was used to study the morphology and distribution of intraepidermal free nerve endings in cat facial skin. Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and substance P (SP) immunoreactivity was found in similar intraepidermal nerve endings of cat glabrous and hairy skin epithelia. The greatest density of immunoreactive intraepidermal nerve endings was located in the nose epidermis. Small limited areas with immunoreactive intraepidermal nerve endings were also found in facial hairy skin