S. Knipping et al., INNERVATION PATTERN OF THE HUMAN NASAL TU RBINATE GLANDS - AN IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL STUDY, Laryngo-, Rhino-, Otologie, 74(2), 1995, pp. 81-84
Seromucous glands are among the main components of human nasal mucosa.
To control the different physiological functions of these glands, a d
ense nerval network is necessary. The aim of this study was to demonst
rate the general innervation of the seromucous glands in nasal mucosa.
Tissue samples of inferior human turbinates were fixed and embedded i
n paraffin wax or frozen. Serial sections were performed and incubated
with antibodies either to neuron-specific enolase (NSE) or S-100 prot
ein. The ABC method was employed to demonstrate the immunacomplexes. T
he sections were counterstained with haemotoxylin. Either NSE and S-10
0 protein-immunoreactive nerve fibres were found around the acini, duc
ts and in the connective tissue of the glands. Furthermore, a dense ne
twork of fine nerve fibres was detected in the submucosal region. The
localisation of neurons in nasal glands confirms the direct nerval con
trol of the diverse glandular functions. Additionally, the sensitive s
ubepithelial network of fine nerve fibres might be involved in the reg
ulation of glandular secretion.