title: Analysis of nerve supply pattern in human lymphatic vessels of young and old men.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The present work deals with innervation patterns along collector lymphatic vessels from cervical, mesenteric, and femoral regions, and lymph capillaries in young and elderly subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Morphological and morphometric analysis of nerve fibers along lymph vessels was performed by immunohistochemistry for PGP 9.5, NPY, TH, ChAT, VIP, SP, and dopamine. Nerves containing NPY and TH were frequent, whereas immunoreactivity for ChAT and VIP were few. SP-positive fibers were widely distributed in the medial and endothelial layers. Dopamine neurotransmitters were observed in a few short nerve fibers. A more diffuse presence of nerve fibers in mesenteric and femoral lymph vessels, compared to cervical ones, was detected. In lymph capillary vessels, a few nerve fibers positive for neuropeptides and neurotransmitters were detected, whereas no dopamine and VIP immunoreactive fibers were detected. A wide reduction of all specific nerve fibers analyzed was detected in lymph vessels from elderly subjects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presence on lymph vessels of sympathetic and parasympathetic nerve systems can be declared. The differences observed in lymphatic vessel innervation patterns may note the involvement in lymph flow regulation, calling attention in aging, when nerve fibers reduction may cause functional default of lymph vessels.
authors.affiliation: Anatomia Umana, Scuola di Scienza del Farmaco e dei Prodotti della Salute, Università di Camerino, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mignini
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sabbatini
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Coppola
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cavallotti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001344:Autopsy; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism*; D002196:Capillaries / Q000294:innervation; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism; D005269:Femur; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008208:Lymphatic System / Q000098:blood supply; D042601:Lymphatic Vessels / Q000294:innervation*; D008297:Male; D008643:Mesentery; D009333:Neck; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000737:chemistry*; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000378:metabolism; D010275:Parasympathetic Nervous System / Q000737:chemistry; D013373:Substance P / Q000378:metabolism; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000737:chemistry; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000378:metabolism; D043222:Ubiquitin Thiolesterase / Q000378:metabolism; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D009478:Neuropeptide Y; C482860:UCHL1 protein, human; D013373:Substance P; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase; D043222:Ubiquitin Thiolesterase