Peptide-containing nerve fibers in human airways: distribution and coexistence pattern.
The occurrence, distribution and coexistence pattern of an array of neuropeptides and tyrosine hydroxylase in the human larynx, trachea, bronchi and lungs were studied by immunocytochemistry. A rich supply of nerve fibers containing vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) was seen close to blood vessels, glands and nonvascular smooth muscle. Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide (PACAP)-containing fibers were numerous among bundles of smooth muscle. Moderate numbers of helospectin-containing nerve fibers were seen in the nonvascular smooth muscle. The majority of neuropeptide Y (NPY)-containing fibers were located in the nonvascular smooth muscle; some fibers also occurred around blood vessels and glands. Substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-containing fibers were generally few and distributed beneath the epithelium, among bundles of smooth muscle, around blood vessels and glands. A conspicuous finding was the lack of SP- and CGRP-containing fibers within the respiratory epithelium. Galanin-containing nerve fibers were moderate in number among bundles of smooth muscle. Tyrosine hydroxylase-containing fibers were numerous around blood vessels and glands. The majority of the VIP-containing nerve fibers present in nonvascular smooth muscle also stored PACAP and helospectin. A subpopulation of VIP-containing fibers in both vascular and nonvascular smooth muscle and around glands stored NPY. Additionally, galanin was found to occur in many VIP-containing fibers located among bundles of smooth muscle.
Department of Medical Cell Research, Malmö General Hospital, University of Lund, Sweden.
A
A
Luts
R
R
Uddman
P
P
Alm
J
J
Basterra
F
F
Sundler
D000320:Adrenergic Fibers / Q000737:chemistry; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007830:Larynx / Q000737:chemistry*; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000737:chemistry*; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000737:chemistry; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000737:chemistry*; D051219:Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide; D014132:Trachea / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000294:innervation; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000737:chemistry
C495401:ADCYAP1 protein, human; D009478:Neuropeptide Y; D009479:Neuropeptides; D051219:Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide