Immunohistochemical and enzymehistochemical studies of peptidergic, aminergic and cholinergic innervation of the lacrimal gland of the monkey (Macaca fuscata).

The distribution of nerve fibers containing peptides which include calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), substance P (SP), neuropeptide Y (NPY) and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) and enzymes of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and acetylcholinesterase (AchE) in the lacrimal gland of the monkey (Macaca fuscata) was studied using immunohistochemical and enzymehistochemical methods. We also examined the trigeminal ganglion (TG) and superior cervical ganglion (SCG) using the same methods. All peptide- and enzyme-containing nerve fibers examined in this study were present in the lacrimal gland and a consistent distribution pattern for each substance was found. CGRP-immunoreactive (IR) nerve fibers were mainly distributed around the blood vessels in the interlobular connective tissue. The distribution pattern of SP-IR nerve fibers was similar to that of CGRP-IR nerve fibers, but they were much less in number. NPY-IR nerve fibers were observed mostly around the blood vessels and occasionally in the interstitial stroma between the acini. Numerous VIP-IR nerve fibers were found surrounding the acini, ducts and blood vessels. TH-IR nerve fibers were also been around the blood vessels and in the interstitial stroma between the acini, as were NPY-IR fibers. The highest concentration of acetylcholinesterase (AchE)-positive nerve fibers was present in the acini, ducts and blood vessels, showing a similar distribution to VIP-IR fibers. In the TG, 50% of medium and 30% of small ganglion cells were CGRP-IR cells, while 20% of medium and 25% of small ganglion cells were of the SP-IR types.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)