Peptide immunoreactivity of the ciliary ganglion and its accessory cells in the rat

By means of immunohistochemistry, calcitonin gene-related peptide, Leu-enkephalin and neuropeptide Y localize to rat ciliary and accessory ganglion cells. The proportion of ciliary and accessory neurons immunoreactive to each peptide is provided and compared to previous data for vasoactive intestinal peptide. These findings indicate considerable neurochemical complexity for a parasympathetic ganglion with a small cell population.