Innervation of the human minor salivary glands; immunohistochemical study for neurochemical substances

Abstract

Distributions of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), dopamine β-hydroxylase (DBH), tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), neuropeptide Y (NPY) and the transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 2 (TRPV2) were examined in the human minor salivary glands. ChAT-, VIP- and DBH-immunoreactive (-IR) nerve fibers were detected within nerve bundles and close to blood vessels and ducts in the salivary glands. Periacinar nerve fibers were commonly immunoreactive for ChAT in the Ebner’s gland but infrequently in other salivary glands. Periacinar VIP-IR nerve fibers were numerous in the palatal gland, moderate in the lingual gland and relatively rare in the labial and Ebner’s glands. Some TH-, NPY- and TRPV2-IR nerve fibers were also present around blood vessels and glandular acini in the palatal, lingual and Ebner’s glands. Neuronal cells in the vicinity of Ebner’s and lingual glands were immunoreactive for ChAT, VIP, TH and TRPV2. By confocal laser scanning microscopy, VIP- and ChAT-IR varicosities were located in the vicinity of myoepithelial and acinar cells in the minor salivary glands. The human minor salivary glands are probably innervated by parasympathetic and sympathetic nerves. Neurotransmitters including neuropeptides in these nerves are thought to be correlated to vasodilation and/or salivary secretion. Acetylcholine and VIP may regulate secretion of the saliva and its components in the salivary glands.