A quantitative study of nerve fiber density in the submandibular gland of rats.
The route and three dimensional distribution of nerve terminals in the submandibular gland were investigated in rats using immunohistochemistry for the protein gene product (PGP) 9.5, as a marker of neuronal elements. Thick fiber bundles were found along the wall of the excretory duct. Many fine fibers from these thick bundles were distributed each lobule of the submandibular gland. A large number of single fibers terminated in the area around the striated, intercalated ducts and the acini. The densities of PGP 9.5 immunoreactive terminals were measured by a computer aided analysis system in the three areas: the striated duct, the intercalated duct, and the acini, whose densities (microm/microm2) were 0.23, 0.39 and 0.05 respectively. The relatively high density of nerve terminals in the intercalated duct suggests that the duct system probably plays an unexpectedly important role in the functional aspects.
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, National Nagoya Hospital, 4-1-1, Marunouchi, Naka-ku, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan.
Tetsuhiro
T
Tsuboi
Takashi
T
Honda
Sumiyo
S
Hishida
Toshio
T
Shigetomi
Minoru
M
Ueda
Yasuo
Y
Sugiura
D000818:Animals; D001360:Avidin / Q000378:metabolism; D001710:Biotin / Q000378:metabolism; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008958:Models, Molecular; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000473:pathology*; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000378:metabolism; D013363:Submandibular Gland / Q000294:innervation*; D043222:Ubiquitin Thiolesterase / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry
C482860:UCHL1 protein, human; D001360:Avidin; D001710:Biotin; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor; D009195:Peroxidase; C489034:UCHL1 protein, rat; D043222:Ubiquitin Thiolesterase