title: Immunocytochemical correlation of peptides and tyrosine hydroxylase in nerve fibres of the human parotid gland.
abstract: The peptidergic innervation of parenchymal and vascular components in the human parotid gland was investigated by double-labelling fluorescence. Peptide immunoreactivity in nerve fibres was correlated with the presence of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH). By light microscopy, acinar innervation consisted of fibres with the combinations neuropeptide Y (NPY)/TH and NPY/vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP). Some fibres were solely NPY, TH or VIP immunoreactive. Rarely, substance P (SP)/calcitonin gene-related (CGRP)-immunolabelled fibres were associated with acini. Intercalated ducts were often approached by NPY/TH- and VIP-containing fibres. VIP innervation of excretory ducts was sparse. Intralobular and intralobar excretory ducts, in addition to NPY and TH, revealed CGRP and CGRP/SP innervation, whereas nerve fibres on interlobar excretory ducts very rarely contained NPY and none of the other mediators. Vascular innervation consisted of NPY/TH and SP/CGRP fibres; in a few fibres SP was colocalized with leu-enkephalin. Large arteries were encircled by some VIP-positive fibres. The findings suggest a specific participation of neuropeptides and of peptide combinations in the regulation of parotid exocrine function.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Heym
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Webber
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Adler
mesh_terms: D000235:Adenolymphoma / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D001158:Arteries / Q000294:innervation; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000032:analysis; D004743:Enkephalin, Leucine / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000201:enzymology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000032:analysis; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000032:analysis*; D010306:Parotid Gland / Q000098:blood supply / Q000294:innervation* / Q000473:pathology; D010307:Parotid Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D013373:Substance P / Q000032:analysis; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000032:analysis*; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D009478:Neuropeptide Y; D009479:Neuropeptides; D013373:Substance P; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide; D004743:Enkephalin, Leucine; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide