Immunocytochemical study on the liver innervation in patients with cirrhosis

In the liver, the autonomic nervous system plays an important role in degen erative and inflammatory changes, The aim of the present study was to inves tigate the distribution of neuronal fibres containing neuropeptides in live rs of 5 patients with cirrhosis by immunocytochemical localization at the l ight and electron microscopical level of substance P (SP), neuropeptide Y ( NPY), somatostatin (SOM), and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). In pa tients with alcoholic cirrhosis, a decreased number of neuronal fibres was found in the portal tract and fibrous septa as well as in the sinusoids of regenerative nodules. NPY- and SP-immunoreactive neuronal fibres were more numerous than CGRP-containing fibres. They were located mainly in portal tr acts. These findings led to the conclusion that peptidergic innervation pla ys a role in inflammatory and fibrotic changes in cirrhotic liver.