Neuropeptides and 5-HT immunoreactivity in the gastric nerves of the dogfish (Scyliorhinus stellaris).

The gastric autonomic innervation of the dogfish was examined for regulatory peptides and serotonin by immunochemical techniques. Bouin's-fixed, paraffin-embedded or benzoquinone-fixed frozen sections were used for light microscopical immunocytochemistry and glutaraldehyde-fixed resin-embedded sections for electron microscopical immunocytochemistry. Bombesin-, somatostatin-, gastrin/cholecystokinin-, substance P-, peptide histidine isoleucine-, vasoactive intestinal peptide- and serotonin-immunoreactive nerves were found in all layers of the stomach wall. Bombesin and vasoactive intestinal peptide-containing nerves were identified at ultrastructural level. Radioimmunoassay of acetic acid extracts of tissue confirmed the presence of immunoreactivity for bombesin, somatostatin, substance P, peptide histidine isoleucine and vasoactive intestinal peptide. Reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography indicated that the peptides identified were broadly similar to their mammalian counterparts.