Alm P, Ekström J, Larsson B, Tobin G, Andersson K E
Department of Pathology, University of Lund, Sweden.
Histochem J. 1997 Sep;29(9):669-76. doi: 10.1023/a:1026452715555.
Nitric oxide has been implicated in mechanisms mediating nerve-evoked vasodilatory and secretory responses in salivary glands. In the present study, the occurrence and distribution of nitric oxide synthase (NOS)-immunoreactive nerves in ferret and rat salivary glands were investigated using immunocytochemistry with rabbit and sheep NOS antisera, and using NADPH-diaphorase enzyme histochemistry. In the parotid, submandibular and sublingual glands of the rat and the ferret, NOS-immunoreactive varicose terminals encircled acini and arteries of various sizes. In the ferret, collecting ducts were also supplied with NOS-immunoreactive fibres. In the rat, only the granular ducts of the submandibular gland were supplied with such fibres. The NOS-immunoreactive innervation of acinar cells was more abundant in the rat than in the ferret, whereas the opposite was true for the innervation of blood vessels. No NOS immunoreactivity was observed in the vascular endothelium. In both species, NOS-positive ganglionic cell bodies were found in the hilar regions of the submandibular and sublingual glands, whereas none could be detected in the parotid glands. NADPH-diaphorase reactivity had the same neuronal distribution as NOS immunoreactivity and, in addition, NADPH-diaphorase reactivity was expressed in ductal epithelium. Neither sympathetic denervation (by removal of the superior cervical ganglion) nor treatment with the sensory neurotoxin capsaicin reduced the NOS-immunoreactive innervation of the parotid gland. However, parasympathetic denervation (by cutting the auriculo-temporal nerve) caused an almost total disappearance of the NOS-immunoreactive innervation. The present findings provide a morphological background to the suggested role of nitric oxide in parasympathetic secretory and vascular responses of salivary glands.
一氧化氮参与了介导唾液腺神经诱发的血管舒张和分泌反应的机制。在本研究中，使用兔和羊一氧化氮合酶抗血清进行免疫细胞化学以及利用NADPH - 黄递酶组织化学方法，研究了雪貂和大鼠唾液腺中一氧化氮合酶（NOS）免疫反应性神经的发生和分布。在大鼠和雪貂的腮腺、颌下腺和舌下腺中，NOS免疫反应性曲张终末环绕着不同大小的腺泡和动脉。在雪貂中，集合管也有NOS免疫反应性纤维供应。在大鼠中，只有颌下腺的颗粒管有此类纤维供应。大鼠腺泡细胞的NOS免疫反应性神经支配比雪貂丰富，而血管的神经支配情况则相反。在血管内皮中未观察到NOS免疫反应性。在这两个物种中，在颌下腺和舌下腺的 hilar 区域发现了NOS阳性神经节细胞体，而在腮腺中未检测到。NADPH - 黄递酶反应性与NOS免疫反应性具有相同的神经元分布，此外，NADPH - 黄递酶反应性在导管上皮中表达。交感神经去支配（通过切除颈上神经节）和用感觉神经毒素辣椒素处理均未减少腮腺的NOS免疫反应性神经支配。然而，副交感神经去支配（通过切断耳颞神经）导致NOS免疫反应性神经支配几乎完全消失。本研究结果为一氧化氮在唾液腺副交感神经分泌和血管反应中的假定作用提供了形态学背景。
