The distribution of substance P-, CGRP-, galanin-and ANP-like immunoreactive nerves in human sweat glands

Abstract

The distribution in immunoreactivities towards atrial natriuretic peptide, calcitonin gene-related peptide, galanin and substance P were demonstrated in human skin at the light and electron microscopic levels. Nerves immunoreactive to the first three of these peptides were found around eccrine sweat glands, whereas only a few positively-labelled nerve fibres could be seen around apocrine glands. At the ultrastructural level, immunoreactivity to the neuropeptides was localized in the large dense-cored vesicles of the nerve terminals. No immunoreactivity to substance P could be detected around sweat glands. In addition to these findings, the four types of immunoreactivity were seen in the thick preterminal nerve bundles.

Neuronal Control of Skin Function: The Skin as a Neuroimmunoendocrine Organ

“…Moreover, they generate neuromodulators such as tyrosine hydroxylase, which can be also used as a marker for autonomic nerves in the skin. Accordingly, immunoreactivity for NPY and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) (845) is only observed in autonomic nerve fibers, which differentiates them from sensory nerve fibers (73) ( Table 2).…”

“…Immunohistochemistry studies in the skin have demonstrated the presence of multiple neuropeptides, neurotransmitters, and neurohormones in sensory nerves including substance P (SP), neurokinin A (NKA) (180), neurotensin, CGRP, VIP, pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) (549,809), peptide histidine-isoleucinamide (PHI), NPY (380), somatostatin (SST) (76), ␤-endorphin, enkephalin, galanin, dynorphin, secretoneurin, ACh, epinephrine, norepinephrine (NE), ␣-or ␥-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH) (386, 497), and corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) (64,240,743,768,769,845). Colocalization of distinct neuropeptides can be observed in different tissues including the skin.…”

Studies on the physical developer for use in immunohistochemistry.

“…Concerning the concentration of primary antibody, the dilution values markedly lower than those employed in the present study have been described in a number of previous studies, in which similar antigenic substances were demonstrated, by means of immuno-peroxidase, immunofluorescence and avidin-biotin-complex techniques (3,5,6,11,21,22,26,27,34). (Comparison is, however, not feasible for prolactin, since the reagent of anti-prolactin antibody used here was supplied in a diluted form).…”

Investigation of left atrial ANP-granule content and ANP release of isolated perfused rat heart.

“…Atrial natriuretic peptide is stored in specific secretory granules in atrial and ventricular myocytes of several species (8,18,27). ANP-like immunoreactivity was also found in several extra-cardiac organs as central ncrvous system (12,23), adrenal medulla and sympathetic ganglia (10), salivary glands (4), sweat glands (25), thyroid gland (21), thymus (28), vena cava and pulmonary veins (15,26). ANP release by atrial myocytes seems to be directly correlated to atrial distension (13,19,20,24).…”