INNERVATION OF NASAL TURBINATE BLOOD-VESSELS IN RHINITIC AND NONRHINITIC CHILDREN

An immunohistochemical study of the nasal mucosa was done in pediatric patients attending an otorhinolaringology (ORL) clinic. The goal was a comparison between vascular innervation in patients with or without symptoms of chronic rhinitis. All patients had an indication for tonsi llectomy prior to their inclusion in this study. Samples were obtained under general anesthesia at the time of programmed surgery and fixed in a paraformaldehyde-picric acid mixture. Cryostat sections were immu nostained for the following neuronal markers: protein-gene product 9.5 (PCP), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), substance P (SP), and C-terminal peptide of neuropeptide Y (CPON). The following classes of vessels were identified: arteries, sinusoids, veins, and arteriovenous anastomoses (AVAs). As shown by immunostaining with the general neuro nal marker PCP, each vessel type had a characteristic innervation patt ern, differing in the amount of fibers and their distribution within t he adventitial and muscle layers. Evaluation of PCP, CPON, and CGRP im munoreactivity patterns indicated that rhinitic arteries and AVAs disp layed a richer innervation than did nonrhinitic blood vessels. Quantif ication of vascular PGP immunostaining confirmed the difference of vas cular innervation between nonrhinitic and rhinitic patients. Fibers im munostained by CPON partially accounted for the rhinitic arterial hype rinnervation.