title: Immunohistochemical heterogeneity of nerve cells in the human adrenal gland with special reference to substance P.
abstract: Neurons in the human adrenal medulla, stained by the NADH-diaphorase reaction, were counted and their neurochemical markers were investigated by double labeling immunofluorescence with special reference to substance P. The findings indicate a significant participation of intramedullary nerve cell bodies in human adrenal innervation with 40.4 neurons/mm3 adrenal medulla. Substance P-immunoreactive neurons, which made up approximately 20% of all neurons, exhibited heterogeneity by co-localization of immunoreactivities for dynorphin, for cholecystokinin, and for neurofilament triplet. Substance-P-immunolabeled neurons were always nonreactive for calcitonin gene-related peptide, for vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, or for tyrosine hydroxylase, the rate-limiting enzyme of catecholamine synthesis. These chemical phenotypes of intramedullary neurons reveal immunohistochemical similarities with postganglionic neurons in parasympathetic ganglia or with enteric neurons, suggesting a hitherto unrecognized functional significance of the intrinsic nervous system in the human adrenal gland.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Colombo-Benkmann
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Klimaschewski
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Heym
mesh_terms: D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000294:innervation* / Q000378:metabolism; D000313:Adrenal Medulla / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D008058:Dihydrolipoamide Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008875:Middle Aged; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D013373:Substance P / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D013373:Substance P; D008058:Dihydrolipoamide Dehydrogenase