INNERVATION PATTERN OF THE HUMAN NASAL TU RBINATE GLANDS - AN IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL STUDY

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.