title: Skin sympathetic adrenergic innervation: an immunofluorescence confocal study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to characterize sympathetic adrenergic innervation of the skin in healthy subjects using dopamine beta hydroxylase (DbetaH) as a specific marker for noradrenergic fibers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sympathetic adrenergic innervation of human skin was studied in 10 healthy subjects by indirect immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy applied to punch skin biopsies. Noradrenergic fibers were identified both in glabrous and hairy skin using DbetaH antibody.
  
  
  RESULTS
  DbetaH immunoreactive fibers were mainly localized in arteriovenous anastomoses, arrector pilorum muscles, and arterioles, whereas few adrenergic fibers were found around sweat glands.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our description of sympathetic adrenergic innervation of human skin aims to improve the diagnostic ability of skin biopsy to detect selective autonomic nervous system disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Donadio
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nolano
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Provitera
authors.forename: Annamaria
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stancanelli
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lullo
authors.forename: Rocco
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Liguori
authors.forename: Lucio
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Santoro
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000378:metabolism; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000378:metabolism; D004299:Dopamine beta-Hydroxylase / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal / Q000379:methods; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000378:metabolism*; D012867:Skin / Q000294:innervation* / Q000378:metabolism*; D013373:Substance P / Q000378:metabolism; D013545:Sweat Glands / Q000378:metabolism; D043222:Ubiquitin Thiolesterase / Q000378:metabolism; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004676:Myelin Basic Protein; C482860:UCHL1 protein, human; D013373:Substance P; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide; D004299:Dopamine beta-Hydroxylase; D043222:Ubiquitin Thiolesterase; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; D009638:Norepinephrine