title: Peptidergic (VIP) nerves in normal human pancreas and in pancreatitis: an immunohistochemical study.
abstract: Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide was demonstrated in the nerves of the human normal pancreas and in pancreatitis by light microscope immunohistochemical technique. In specimens of normal pancreas, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-immunoreactive neuronal cells were present in the autonomic ganglia. These ganglia were found to receive an abundant supply of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-positive fibre plexuses. Immunoreactive nerve fibres were seen to run in the stroma, in association with secretory acini, ducts and blood vessels. Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-positive fibres were also seen close to the Langerhans' islets, but no vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-like immunoreactivity was observed in the endocrine cells. In specimens from patients affected by pancreatitis, even in lesioned regions, immunoreactive elements were extremely scarce.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cytomorphology, University of Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Marongiu
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Perra
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Pinna
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sirigu
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sirigu
mesh_terms: D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000473:pathology; D005725:Ganglia, Autonomic / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D010179:Pancreas / Q000294:innervation* / Q000473:pathology; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000473:pathology*; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide