Fig. 4

Micrographs demonstrating the presence of DβH (B, F, J, N), nNOS (C, G) and NPY (K, O) in the PCG uterine perikarya of gilts from the control (A-D), saline (I-L) and E. coli (E-H, M-P) groups. The arrowhead indicates a Fast Blue (FB)-positive neuron, a perikaryon immunoreactive to DβH and nNOS/NPY, a neuron immunoreactive to NPY, as well as an nNOS-immunoreactive perikaryon. The double arrow indicates an FB-positive uterine neuron expressing DβH and nNOS/NPY. The photographs were made by digital superimposition of three color channels: FB-positive (blue), DβH-positive (red) and nNOS- or NPY-positive (green). One perikaryon expressing nNOS and DβH is present in the ganglion of the control group (A-D). In the E. coli group, two perikarya expressing these substances are observed in the PCG (E-H). Two DβH and NPY immunoreactive uterine neurons are visible in the gilt of the saline group (I-L). In the PCG of the E. coli group, an elevated number of perikarya expressing these substances are visible (M-P)