Ultrastructural detection of nitric oxide in human nasal mucosa.
OBJECTIVE
Nasal vasculature and seromucous glands are exposed to complex mechanisms influenced by external as well as internal stimuli. In addition to classic and peptidergic neurotransmitters, nitric oxide (NO) was increasingly found to be important in the control of various physiologic functions. NO modulates nasal immunology, influences macrophage activity, and has antiviral and bacteriostatic properties. The aim of this study was to show the localization of nitric oxide synthases (NOS) I and III in the normal human nasal mucosa by using immunoelectron microscopical techniques.


METHODS
Specimens of noninflammed inferior turbinates from 35 patients who underwent nasal surgery were fixed in phosphate-buffered glutaraldehyde. After dehydration, incubation in unicryl and polymerization, ultrathin sections were cut. Primary antibodies against NOS I and III were applied and the immunocomplexes were visualized by an immunocytochemical staining-technique using gold-labeled antibodies. Immunostained structures were photodocumented using a transmission electron microscope.


RESULTS
NOS-immunoreactive nerve fibers were mainly co-located in parasympathetic nerves in the adventitia of arterial vessels and in periglandular axons. Electron microscopy showed that NOS-positive axons were in close contact with acinus cells. A strong NOS III-immunoreactivity was found in endothelial cells of capillaries near the glands as well as in arterial vessels. Furthermore, immunoreaction products were deposited throughout the cytoplasm of fibroblasts.


CONCLUSIONS
Nitric oxide in nerve fibers, seromucous glands, and endothelial cells of capillaries and arterial vessels suggest that NO takes part in the regulation of physiologic processes of the human nasal mucosa. NOS was co-localized in parasympathetic nerves and plays a role in the neurotransmission and neuromodulation of the vascular tone and glandular secretion. Arteries showed a distinctly developed nitrergic innervation and endothelial accumulation. The NO production in axons of the adventitia and in the endothelium of arteries demonstrated that these vessels are influenced by a dual NO system. NO could mainly act on these structures with vasodilatatory effects. Finally, NO would be able to influence the functions of perivascular fibroblasts.
Knipping
Stephan
S
Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and the Pathological Institute, Martin Luther University Halle Wittenberg, Halle, Germany. stephan.knipping@medizin.uni-halle.de
Holzhausen
Hans Jürgen
HJ
Berghaus
Alexander
A
Bloching
Marc
M
Riederer
Andreas
A
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D016253:Microscopy, Immunoelectron; D008875:Middle Aged; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000032:analysis*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000032:analysis; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; D012016:Reference Values; D014420:Turbinates / Q000648:ultrastructure
D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009569:Nitric Oxide; C496320:NOS1 protein, human; C496314:NOS3 protein, human; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III