Distribution of VIP receptors in the human submandibular gland: an immunohistochemical study.
Distribution of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)-immunoreactive nerve fibers and VIP-receptor (VIP-R)-immunoreactive sites in the human submandibular gland were examined by the peroxidase-antiperoxidase method using the specimens taken from patients that had not received radiotherapy. VIP-immunoreactive fibers were found around both serous and mucous acini, the duct system, and those around the mucous acini were more numerous than those around the serous acini. VIP-R immunoreactivity was restricted to the mucous acini and the intercalated duct segment. The serous acini, striated duct, and excretory ducts lacked VIP-R immunoreactivity. These findings suggest that the mucous acinar cells contain VIP-R, and that VIP-R-mediated VIP action is involved in regulating synthesis of viscous saliva and its release.
Kusakabe
T
T
Department of Anatomy, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, Japan.
Matsuda
H
H
Gono
Y
Y
Kawakami
T
T
Kurihara
K
K
Tsukuda
M
M
Takenaka
T
T
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007012:Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000737:chemistry; D018005:Receptors, Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000378:metabolism*; D013363:Submandibular Gland / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
D018005:Receptors, Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide