Skin sympathetic adrenergic innervation: an immunofluorescence confocal study.
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.
Donadio
Vincenzo
V
Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Naples, Italy.
Nolano
Maria
M
Provitera
Vincenzo
V
Stancanelli
Annamaria
A
Lullo
Francesco
F
Liguori
Rocco
R
Santoro
Lucio
L
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
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