Substance P-, VIP-, and enkephalin-like immunoreactivity in the human vagus nerve.
Gastroenterology
confidence
Key findings
Immunohistochemical study showing presence of SP-, ENK-, and VIP-like immunoreactivity in human vagus nerve fibers; no clinical or biological endpoints reported.
View source on PubMed (PMID 378753) ↗
- Sample size
- Not reported
- Population
- Human vagus nerve tissue from surgical operations
- Dosing
- Not applicable
- Duration
- 0.5-4 hr nerve ligation
- Route
- Not applicable
- Blinding
- not_reported
- Controls
- none
- Drug class
- neuropeptide
Full abstract
The human vagus nerve has been investigated for the presence of substance P (SP), vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), and enkephalin (ENK) using immunohistochemistry. After 0.5-4 hr of nerve ligation during surgical operations two right thoracic main truncs, two anterior subdiaphragmal trunks, and four anterior nerves of Latarjet were found to contain accumulation of immunoreactive material in nerve fibers above the ligation. Very high numbers of SP-, medium numbers of ENK-, and low number of VIP-immunoreactive fibers were seen. The relative proportions were similar at all levels studied. These data thus indicate the presence and axonal transport of SP-, ENK-, and VIP-like peptides in the human vagus nerve. Our observations in humans correlate well with results obtained from other species. Thus gastrointestinal vagal sensory mechanisms may be mediated by SP (and possibly VIP) and some motor mechanisms by ENK.