Summary
Noradrenaline and acetylcholine esterase activity are localized histochemically, and noradrenaline also electron microscopically, in human submandibular and parotid glands. Both glands receive a dual innervation by the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. The nerve terminals of the sympathetic adrenergic neurons could also be identified by electron microscopy, owing to their content of “dense cored vesicles” of a certain size (between 100 and 500 Å). The present morphological findings permit the conclusion that the adrenergic transmitter probably can reach all acinar cells as well as myoepithelial cells, and that also a large part of the effector cells can be directly affected by the parasympathetic transmitter.
Zusammenfassung
Die Lokalisation von Noradrenalin und Acetylcholinesteras-Aktivität in Glandula Submandibularis und Parotis von Menschen wurde mit histochemischer Technik dargestellt. Beide Speicheldrüsen erhalten eine Innervation von sowohl dem sympathischen als auch dem parasympathischen Nervensystem. Auch im Elektronenmikroskop konnten zwei Typen von Nerven gezeigt werden, wobei die adrenergen Nerven durch zwei Arten von sogenannten “dense cored vesicles” (Durchmesser 500 bzw. 100 Å) gekennzeichnet sind. Die vorliegenden morphologischen Befunde erlauben den Schlußsatz, daß die adrenerge Transmittorsubstanz kann und daß auch ein großer Teil der Effektorzellen direkt von der parasympathischen Transmittorsubstanz beeinflußt werden kann.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Babkin, B. P.: Secretory mechanisms of the digestive glands. New York: Hoeber, 1950.
Burgen, A. S. V., andN.G. Emmelin: Physiology of the salivary glands. London: E. Arnold Ltd., 1961.
Caesar, R., G. Edwards, andH. Ruska: Architecture and nerve supply of mammalian smooth muscle tissue. J. Biophys. Biochem. Cytol.3, 867–876 (1957).
De Robertis, E., andH. S. Bennett: Submicroscopic vesicular component in the synapse. Fed. Proc.13, 35 (1954).
Falck, B.: Observations on the possibilities of the cellular localization of mono-amines by a fluorescence method. Acta physiol. Scand.56, Suppl. 197, 1–25 (1962).
— andCh. Owman: A detailed methodological description of the fluorescence method for the cellular demonstration of biogenic monoamines. Acta Univ. Lundens., Sect. II,7, 1–23 (1965).
Falck, B., N.-Å. Hillarp, G. Thieme andA. Torp: Fluorescence of catecholamines and related compounds condensed with formaldehyde. J. Histochem. Cytochem.10, 348–354 (1962).
Fujiwara, M., Ch. Tanaka, T. Honjo andT. Okegawa: Histochemical demonstration of noradrenaline in rat salivary glands. Jap. J. Pharmacol.15, 369–377 (1966).
Garrett, J. R.: The innervation of salivary glands. I—Cholinesterase positive nerves in normal glands of the cat. J. R. microsc. Soc.85, 135–148 (1966a).
—: The innervation of salivary glands. II—The ultrastructure of nerves in normal glands of the cat. J. R. microsc. Soc.85, 149–162 (1966b).
Garrett, J. R.: The innervation of normal human submandibular and parotid salivary glands. Arch. oral. Biol.12, 1417–1436 (1967).
Gomori, G.: Microscopic histochemistry. Principles and practice. p. 210. Chicago: Univ. Chicago Press, 1952.
Grillo, M. A., andS. L. Palay: Granule-containing vesicles in the autonomic nervous system. In: Electron Microscopy, Proc. 5th Intern. Congr. Electron Microscopy, Philadelphia,S. S. Breese, ed. pp. U 1–2. New York-London: Academic Press, 1962.
Holmstedt, B.: A modification of the thiocholine method for determination of cholinesterase. II. Histochemical application. Acta physiol. Scand.40, 331–337 (1957).
Hökfelt, T.: On the ultrastructural localization of noradrenaline in the central nervous system of the rat. Z. Zellforsch.79, 110–117 (1967).
—:In vitro studies on central and peripheral monoamine neurons at the ultrastructural level. Z. Zellforsch.91, 1–74 (1968).
— andO. Nilsson: The relationship between nerves and smooth muscle cells in the rat iris. II. The sphincter muscle. Z. Zellforsch.66, 848–853 (1965).
Iversen, L. L.: The uptake and storage of noradrenaline in sympathetic nerves. Cambridge: Univ. Press (1967).
Luft, J. H.: Improvements in epoxy resin embedding methods. J. biophys. biochem. Cytol.9, 409–414 (1961).
Malmfors, T.: Studies on adrenergic nerves. The use of rat and mouse iris for direct observations on their physiology and pharmacology at cellular and subcellular levels. Acta physiol. Scand.64, Suppl. 248 (1965).
Nilsson, O.: The relationship between nerves and smooth muscle cells in the rat iris. 1. The dilator muscle. Z. Zellforsch.64, 166–171 (1964).
Norberg, K.-A., andB. Hamberger: The sympathetic adrenergic neuron. Some characteristics revealed by histochemical studies on the intraneuronal distribution of the transmitter. Acta physiol. Scand.63, Suppl. 238 (1964).
Norberg, K.-A., andL. Olson: Adrenergic innervation of the salivary glands in the rat. Z. Zellforsch.68, 183–189 (1965).
Palade, G. E., andS. L. Palay: Electron microscope observations of intraneuronal and neuromuscular synapses. Anat. Rec.118, 335 (1954).
Reynolds, E. S.: The use of lead citrate at high pH as an electron-opaque stain in electron microscopy. J. Cell Biol.17, 208–212 (1963).
Richardson, K. C.: The fine structure of the albino rabbit iris with special reference to the identification of adrenergic and cholinergic nerves and nerve endings in its intrinsic muscles. Amer. J. Anat.114, 173–206 (1964).
Richardson, K. C.: Electron microscopic identification of autonomic nerve endings. Nature (Lond.)210, 756 (1966).
Taxi J.: Contribution à l'étude des connexions des neurones moteurs du système nerveux autonome. Ann. Sci. nat. zool. (Paris) Ser. 12,7, 413–674 (1965).
Thaemert, I. C.: The ultrastructure and disposition of vesiculated nerve processes in smooth muscle. J. Cell Biol.16, 361–377 (1963).
Yamauchi, A., andG. Burnstock: Nerve-myoepithelium and nerve-glandular epithelium contacts in the lacrimal gland of the sheep. J. Cell Biol.34, 917–919 (1967).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
With 8 Figures
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Norberg, K.A., Hökfelt, T. & Eneroth, C.M. The autonomic innervation of human submandibular and parotid glands. J. Neuro-Viscer. Relat 31, 280–290 (1969). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02323407
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02323407