Peptide containing nerves in the nasal mucosa.

Numerous nerve fibres containing vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), substance P (SP) or immunoreactive avian pancreatic polypeptide (APP) occur in the nasal mucosa of several mammals, including man. Generally, the nerve fibres are distributed around small blood vessels and seromucous glands. In addition, SP containing fibres can be seen in the nasal epithelium. The pterygopalatine ganglion contains acetylcholinesterase (AChE) positive nerve cell bodies together with VIP and SP containing ones. After exposure to colchicine it could be shown that the VIP and SP containing nerve cell bodies also were positive for AChE. VIP and SP are potant mediators of atropine resistent vasodilatation in the mucosa. The physiological effects of APP are not known.