[Immunocytochemical study of cholinergic innervation in the neurosensory epithelia of human vestibule].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the cholinergic innervation of the neurosensory epithelia of human vestibule.


METHODS
A modified preembedding immunostaining technique for immunoelectronmicroscopy was applied to this study. A polyclonal antibody to choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) was used as the marker of cholinergic fibers.


RESULTS
ChAT-immunoreactive products were restricted to the nerve fibers and terminals which were rich in synaptic vesicles. The ChAT-immunoreactive fibers synaps with afferent chalice as well as with type II sensory hair cells.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrates that cholinergic fibers innervate the neurosensory epithelia of human vestible. The cholinergic fibers of human vestibular sensory epithelia belong to the vestibular efferent system.
Kong
W
W
Union Hospital of Tong ji Medical University, Wuhan 430022.
Hussl
B
B
Schrott-Fischer
A
A
D000368:Aged; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase / Q000032:analysis*; D004525:Efferent Pathways; D004848:Epithelium / Q000201:enzymology / Q000294:innervation / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018069:Hair Cells, Vestibular / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016253:Microscopy, Immunoelectron; D008875:Middle Aged; D009476:Neurons, Efferent / Q000201:enzymology; D014722:Vestibule, Labyrinth / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000294:innervation / Q000648:ultrastructure
D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase