Immunohistochemical demonstration of nerves and nerve cells in human and porcine ureters

Abstract

There are divergent opinions about the origin of ureteral motility. It is either a myogenic or a neutral phenomenon. Furthermore, the existence of nerve cells in the ureter is also a controversial question. In the present study we applied immunohistochemical methods to human and porcine ureters in an attempt to clarify the mattern. As neuronal markers we used anti-PGP 9.5 and anti-NSE, and as a glial marker anti-S-100. In the whole mount preparations of pig ureter we observed two neuronal plexuses on both sides of the tunica muscularis. The inner plexus consisted of both nerve bundles and nerve cells, whereas the outer one did not contain any nerve cells. In the human ureter we found a ganglion with nerve cells beneath the tunica muscularis and the tunica adventitia.