title: [Immunohistochemical study of the neuroanatomy of the nasal turbinate in man. Innervation pattern of the blood vessels].
abstract: The complex vasculature of the human nasal mucosa plays an important role in the protection of the lower respiratory airways. It has to react to different external and internal stimuli and is under control of the autonomic nervous system. The aim of our study was to detect the precise localisation of neural structures in human nasal mucosa vessels under physiological conditions. Silver impregnation and histochemical staining techniques only allowed a partial aspect of autonomic innervation. Modern immunostaining methods with antibodies to neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and S-100 protein proved to be better for the demonstration of nerve structures. Tissue samples were taken from inferior turbinates received at mucotomy in 42 patients. After fixation the samples were embedded in paraffin wax and cut into serial sections. Additionally frozen sections were performed. The immunocomplexes were visualised by the avidin-biotin-complex (ABC) or by the alkaline phosphatase anti-alkaline phosphatase (APAAP) technique. A high density of S-100 and NSE immunoreactivity of neuronal and glial components of autonomic innervation could be demonstrated in the vessels of human nasal turbinates. Branching off relatively thick nerve bundles of the lamina propria fibres extended to the adventitia of the arteries near the periost and formed a periarterial nerve plexus. Fibres of this plexus supplied the smooth muscle tissue of the tunica media. Around veins only a few single nerve fibres could be demonstrated. By using immunocytochemical techniques it is possible to correlate the localisation of the classical neurotransmitters and multiple vasoactive neuropeptides with the corresponding innervation structures of the complex vasculature in human nasal mucosa.
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik für HNO-Kranke, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, München.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Riederer
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Knipping
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Grevers
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zietz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001158:Arteries / Q000294:innervation; D001369:Axons / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000294:innervation*; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000098:blood supply*; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009474:Neurons / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase / Q000032:analysis*; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D014420:Turbinates / Q000098:blood supply*; D014666:Vasomotor System / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D014680:Veins / Q000294:innervation
chemical_list: D009418:S100 Proteins; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase
vernacular_title: Immunohistochemische Untersuchungen zur Neuroanatomie der Nasenmuschel des Menschen. Innervationsmuster der Gefässe.