Objectives: We investigated the distribution of vitamin D receptors (VDR), 1α-hydroxylase (1-α- OHase/ CYP27B1), 24-hydroxylase (CYP24) in neuronal subpopulations and satellite glia in the superior cervical ganglia (SCGs) of rats. Materials and methods: Four male Sprague-Dawley rats were raised under controlled conditions. The rats were sacrificed at twelwe weeks of age, and their superior cervical ganglia embedded in paraffin and prepared for immunohistochemistry. The intensity of fluorescence in the cytoplasm of neurons with clearly visible nuclei was measured on microphotographs. The following primary antibodies were used: polyclonal rabbit anti-VDR antibodysheep anti-murine 25-hydroxyvitamin D3-1α-hydroxylasepolyclonal goat anti-CYP 24 mouse monoclonal anti-s100 antibody , and polyclonal sheep anti-neuropeptide Y (NPY) Intensity of fluorescence was measured via Image J software. Results: VDR immunoreactivity was observed in the cytoplasm and nucleus of nearly all neurons in the SCG. Intensity of VDR fluorescence was significantly greater in the cytoplasm of NPY negative somata compared to NPY positive neurons. Immunoreactivity for 1α-hydroxylase was observed in the cytoplasm of all neurons of the SCG, but the intensity of fluorescence was less in the nuclei. To the contrary, the immunoreactivity for CYP24 was stronger in the nuclei, although it was present at lower intensity in the cytoplasm of neurons. VDR and 1α-hydroxylase immunofluorescence was also observed in many non-neuronal cells, except satellite glial cells, which exhibited weak CYP24 immunofluorescence. Conclusions: Expression of VDRs and key metabolizing enzymes indicated the importance of vitamin D in the autonomic nervous system and the ability of sympathetic neurons to activate and deactivate vitamin D for its autocrine and paracrine roles.