title: Peptidergic innervation of the major salivary glands of the ferret.
abstract: In parotid, sublingual and submandibular glands of the ferret, morphological correlates were looked for, using immunocytochemistry, to previous physiological findings showing parasympathetic "atropine-resistant" salivary secretion and neuropeptide-evoked salivation in this species. Nerve fibers storing VIP were numerous in association with acini, ducts and blood vessels, while the number of fibers storing substance P was moderate and those containing CGRP and galanin few; also the number of NPY-containing fibers was low around acini and ducts but relatively high around vessels. Sympathectomy eliminated all NPY- and almost all dopamine beta-hydroxylase-containing fibers. Parasympathectomy of the parotid gland resulted in a total loss of the VIP-containing fibers, and a profound reduction in the number of substance P- and CGRP-containing fibers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Lund University, Sweden.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tobin
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Luts
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sundler
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ekström
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005289:Ferrets / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000294:innervation*
chemical_list: D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins