title: Tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive fibers in the human vagus nerve.
abstract: Sympathetic catecholaminergic fibers in the vagus nerve were immunohistochemically examined in formalin-fixed human cadavers using an antibody against the noradrenalin-synthetic enzyme tyrosine hydroxylase (TH). TH-positive fibers were extensively distributed in the vagal nerve components, including the superior and inferior ganglia, the main trunk and the branches (superior and recurrent laryngeal, superior and inferior cardiac, and pulmonary branches). The inferior ganglion and its continuous cervical main trunk contained numerous TH-positive fibers with focal or diffuse distribution patterns in each nerve bundle. From these findings, we conclude that sympathetic fibers are consistently included in the human vagus nerve, a main source of parasympathetic preganglionic fibers to the cervical, thoracic and abdominal visceral organs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto, Nagano 390-8621, Japan. kyutaro@sch.md.shinshu-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Kyutaro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kawagishi
authors.forename: Nanae
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fukushima
authors.forename: Kumiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yokouchi
authors.forename: Norimi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sumitomo
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kakegawa
authors.forename: Tetsuji
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Moriizumi
mesh_terms: D000320:Adrenergic Fibers / Q000201:enzymology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D017950:Ganglia, Sensory / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology; D005728:Ganglia, Sympathetic / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007823:Laryngeal Nerves / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017777:Parasympathetic Fibers, Postganglionic / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000166:cytology* / Q000201:enzymology*; D014781:Viscera / Q000294:innervation
chemical_list: D002395:Catecholamines; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase