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Laboratory science
Urocortin-positive nerve fibres and cells are present in the human choroid
  1. Alexandra Kaser-Eichberger1,
  2. Christian Platzl1,
  3. Heidi Wolfmeier1,
  4. Andrea Trost2,
  5. Anja Horn3,
  6. Miriam Barnerssoi3,
  7. Clemens Strohmaier4,
  8. Falk Schroedl1
  1. 1 Center for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology – Salzburg, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
  2. 2 Department of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
  3. 3 Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology I, Ludwig-Maximilians-University München, München, Germany
  4. 4 Department of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Kepler University Hospital, Linz, Oberösterreich, Austria
  1. Correspondence to Professor Falk Schroedl, Center for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology – Salzburg, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria; falk.schroedl{at}pmu.ac.at

Abstract

Background Choroidal vascular regulation is mediated by the autonomic nervous system in order to gain proper blood flow control. While the mechanisms behind this control are unknown, neuroregulatory peptides are involved in this process. To better understand choroidal function, we investigate the presence of urocortin-1 (UCN), a neuroregulatory peptide with vascular effects, in the human choroid and its possible intrinsic and extrinsic origin.

Methods Human choroid and eye-related cranial ganglia (superior cervical ganglion- SCG, ciliary ganglion-CIL, pterygopalatine ganglion-PPG, trigeminal ganglion-TRI) were prepared for immunohistochemistry against UCN, protein–gene product 9.5 (PGP9.5), substance P (SP), tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT). For documentation, confocal laser scanning microscopy was used.

Results In choroidal stroma, UCN-immunoreactivity was present in nerve fibres, small cells and intrinsic choroidal neurons (ICN). Some UCN+ nerve fibres colocalised for VAChT, while others were VAChT. A similar situation was found with SP: some UCN+ nerve fibres showed colocalisation for SP, while others lacked SP. Colocalisation for UCN and TH was not observed. In eye-related cranial ganglia, only few cells in the SCG, PPG and TRI were UCN+, while many cells of the CIL displayed weak UCN immunoreactivity.

Conclusion UCN is part of the choroidal innervation. UCN+/VAChT+ fibres could derive from the few cells of the PPG or cells of the CIL, if these indeed supply the choroid. UCN+/SP+ fibres might originate from ICN, or the few UCN+ cells detected in the TRI. Further studies are necessary to establish UCN function in the choroid and its implication for choroidal autonomic control.

  • anatomy
  • choroid

Data availability statement

All data relevant to the study are included in the article or uploaded as supplementary information. Not applicable.

https://doi.org/10.1136/bjophthalmol-2021-320697

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    Data availability statement

    All data relevant to the study are included in the article or uploaded as supplementary information. Not applicable.

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    Footnotes

    • AK-E and CP are joint first authors.

    • AK-E and CP contributed equally.

    • Contributors AK-E, CP, HW, AT, AH, MB, CS, FS (guarantor): Contributed substantial to the conception and design of the work; the acquisition, analysis and interpretation of data for the work; drafting the work and revising it critically for important intellectual content; gave final approval of the work to be published; agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved. AK-E and CP contributed equally and shall be considered first authors.

    • Funding This study was supported by the Anniversary Fund of the Austrian National Bank (OeNB, number 17617; FS), the Research Fund of Paracelsus Medical University (PMU-FFF A-18/01/030-SCK; FS/AKE), and the German Research Foundation (DFG1639/5-1; AH).

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.

    • Supplemental material This content has been supplied by the author(s). It has not been vetted by BMJ Publishing Group Limited (BMJ) and may not have been peer-reviewed. Any opinions or recommendations discussed are solely those of the author(s) and are not endorsed by BMJ. BMJ disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on the content. Where the content includes any translated material, BMJ does not warrant the accuracy and reliability of the translations (including but not limited to local regulations, clinical guidelines, terminology, drug names and drug dosages), and is not responsible for any error and/or omissions arising from translation and adaptation or otherwise.

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