The lacrimal glands of the rat and the guinea pig are innervated by nerve fibers containing immunoreactivities for substance P and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide.

Two neuropeptides, substance P and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, have been shown to increase secretion of exocrine glands. We have studied immunohistochemically the intra- and exorbital lacrimal glands of the rat and the guinea pig for the presence of substance P-like and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-like immunoreactive (SPLI and VIPLI, respectively) nerve fibers. Both SPLI and VIPLI nerve fibers were found surrounding glandular acini, secretory ducts and blood vessels. Their distribution, however, was uneven. The SPLI fibers predominated around the ducts whereas VIPLI fibers predominated around acini. The results suggest that the two neuropeptides may both regulate the lacrimal secretion, but they may have two different sites of actions because they prevail in different locations.