biostudies-literatureBrumovsky PRNINDS NIH HHS258-72https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC3114170biostudies-literatureUnknown230(2)Glutamate is the main excitatory neurotransmitter in the nervous system, including in primary afferent neurons. However, to date a glutamatergic phenotype of autonomic neurons has not been described. Therefore, we explored the expression of vesicular glutamate transporter (VGLUT) types 1, 2 and 3 in lumbar sympathetic chain (LSC) and major pelvic ganglion (MPG) of naïve BALB/C mice, as well as after pelvic nerve axotomy (PNA), using immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization. Colocalization with activating transcription factor-3 (ATF-3), tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT) and calcitonin gene-related peptide was also examined. Sham-PNA, sciatic nerve axotomy (SNA) or naïve mice were included. In naïve mice, VGLUT(2)-like immunoreactivity (LI) was onlyExperimental neurologySome lumbar sympathetic neurons develop a glutamatergic phenotype after peripheral axotomy with a note on VGLUT₂-positive perineuronal baskets.PMC3114170NS 35790R01 NS035790-14R01 NS035790NS19912R01 NS019912-28R01 NS019912Brumovsky PRSeroogy KBHokfelt TLundgren KHWatanabe MGebhart GFfalseSome lumbar sympathetic neurons develop a glutamatergic phenotype after peripheral axotomy with a note on VGLUT₂-positive perineuronal baskets.Glutamate is the main excitatory neurotransmitter in the nervous system, including in primary afferent neurons. However, to date a glutamatergic phenotype of autonomic neurons has not been described. Therefore, we explored the expression of vesicular glutamate transporter (VGLUT) types 1, 2 and 3 in lumbar sympathetic chain (LSC) and major pelvic ganglion (MPG) of naïve BALB/C mice, as well as after pelvic nerve axotomy (PNA), using immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization. Colocalization with activating transcription factor-3 (ATF-3), tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT) and calcitonin gene-related peptide was also examined. Sham-PNA, sciatic nerve axotomy (SNA) or naïve mice were included. In naïve mice, VGLUT(2)-like immunoreactivity (LI) was only2011-01-01T00:00:00Z2011 Aug2025-06-01T01:07:44.298Z2019-06-05T16:32:15ZS-EPMC31141702159603610.1016/j.expneurol.2011.05.004