On the autonomic innervation of the human vas deferens.
The autonomic innervation of the human vas deferens was studied histochemically. In the well-developed smooth muscle layers there were a small number of delicate adrenergic nerve terminals. Varicose nerve terminals able to take up and bind quinacrine were also found. These nerves may represent a specific nerve population previously denoted as "purinergic" nerves. In contrast, nerves displaying acetylcholine esterase (AchE) activity and/or immunoreactivity specific for vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) were mainly found subepithelially in the connective tissue of the mucosa.
D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000378:metabolism; D000320:Adrenergic Fibers / Q000648:ultrastructure; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D004743:Enkephalin, Leucine / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009130:Muscle, Smooth; D011796:Quinacrine / Q000378:metabolism; D013373:Substance P / Q000378:metabolism; D014649:Vas Deferens / Q000294:innervation*; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000378:metabolism
D013373:Substance P; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide; D004743:Enkephalin, Leucine; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase; D011796:Quinacrine