Yew D T, Luo C B, Zheng D R, Guan Y L, Lin Y Q, Chen W Z
Department of Anatomy, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin.
Neuroscience. 1990;34(2):491-8. doi: 10.1016/0306-4522(90)90157-y.
The presence of enkephalin and substance P-positive neurons and fibers were studied by immunohistochemistry (peroxidase-antiperoxidase or avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex methods) in 26 human fetuses ranging from 11 weeks of gestation to 40 weeks of gestation. Enkephalin-positive neurons were localized in the commissural, medial and intermediate subnuclei as early as 11-12 weeks' gestation. Positive enkephalin fibers were localized around 12 weeks' gestation and in many subnuclei, notably the medial, commissural, intermediate, ventrolateral, ventral and dorsolateral subnuclei. Substance P-positive neurons were localized in the commissural and medial subnuclei around gestation age 13 weeks. Positive substance P fibers appeared even earlier, around 11 weeks of gestation in many subnuclei, notably the medial, intermediate, ventral, ventrolateral and dorsolateral subnuclei. Increase in both enkephalin- and substance P-positive fibers was evident in the later stages of development (e.g. around 26 weeks of gestation). The importance of the early appearance of enkephalin and substance P neurons and fibers of the pain pathways in the major subnuclei connecting with the cardiovascular, gastrointestinal and respiratory functions in the human has to be stressed.
采用免疫组织化学方法（过氧化物酶-抗过氧化物酶法或抗生物素蛋白-生物素-过氧化物酶复合物法），对26例孕龄从11周40周的人类胎儿进行研究，观察脑啡肽和P物质阳性神经元及纤维的存在情况。早在妊娠1112周时，脑啡肽阳性神经元就定位于连合核、内侧核和中间核。脑啡肽阳性纤维在妊娠12周左右出现，并存在于许多核团，尤其是内侧核、连合核、中间核、腹外侧核、腹侧核和背外侧核。P物质阳性神经元在妊娠13周左右定位于连合核和内侧核。P物质阳性纤维出现得更早，在妊娠11周左右出现在许多核团，尤其是内侧核、中间核、腹侧核、腹外侧核和背外侧核。在发育后期（如妊娠26周左右），脑啡肽和P物质阳性纤维均明显增加。必须强调的是，在人类中，与心血管、胃肠道和呼吸功能相关的主要核团中，疼痛通路的脑啡肽和P物质神经元及纤维早期出现具有重要意义。
