Abstract：
BACKGROUND: What textbooks usually call the sublingual gland in humans is in reality a tissue mass of two types of salivary glands, the anteriorly located consisting of a cluster of minor sublingual glands and the posteriorly located major sublingual gland with its outlet via Bartholin\'s duct. Only recently, the adrenergic and cholinergic innervations of the major sublingual gland was reported, while information regarding the neuropeptidergic and nitrergic innervations is still lacking.
METHODS: Bioptic and autoptic specimens of the human major sublingual gland were examined by means of immunohistochemistry for the presence of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)-, neuropeptide Y (NPY)-, substance P (SP)-, calcitonin gene related-peptide (CGRP)-, and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS)-labeled neuronal structures.
RESULTS: As to the neuropeptidergic innervation of secretory cells (here in the form of mucous tubular and seromucous cells), the findings showed many VIP-containing nerves, few NPY- and SP-containing nerves and a lack of CGRP-labeled nerves. As to the neuropeptidergic innervation of vessels, the number of VIP-containing nerves was modest, while, of the other neuropeptide-containing nerves under study, only few (SP and CGRP) to very few (NPY) nerves were observed. As to the nitrergic innervation, nNOS-containing nerves were very few close to secretory cells and even absent around vessels.
CONCLUSIONS: The various innervation patterns may suggest potential transmission mechanisms involved in secretory and vascular responses of the major sublingual gland.
METHODS: Bioptic and autoptic specimens of the human major sublingual gland were examined by means of immunohistochemistry for the presence of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)-, neuropeptide Y (NPY)-, substance P (SP)-, calcitonin gene related-peptide (CGRP)-, and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS)-labeled neuronal structures.
RESULTS: As to the neuropeptidergic innervation of secretory cells (here in the form of mucous tubular and seromucous cells), the findings showed many VIP-containing nerves, few NPY- and SP-containing nerves and a lack of CGRP-labeled nerves. As to the neuropeptidergic innervation of vessels, the number of VIP-containing nerves was modest, while, of the other neuropeptide-containing nerves under study, only few (SP and CGRP) to very few (NPY) nerves were observed. As to the nitrergic innervation, nNOS-containing nerves were very few close to secretory cells and even absent around vessels.
CONCLUSIONS: The various innervation patterns may suggest potential transmission mechanisms involved in secretory and vascular responses of the major sublingual gland.
摘要：
背景：教科书通常所说的人类舌下腺实际上是两种唾液腺的组织块，位于前部，由一簇小舌下腺和位于后部的主要舌下腺组成，其出口通过Bartholin导管。只是最近,据报道，主要舌下腺的肾上腺素能和胆碱能神经支配，而有关神经肽能和氮能神经支配的信息仍然缺乏。
方法：通过免疫组织化学检查人类主要舌下腺的活检和自体视标本是否存在血管活性肠肽（VIP）-，神经肽Y（NPY）-，P物质（SP）-，降钙素基因相关肽（CGRP）-，和神经元一氧化氮合酶（nNOS）标记的神经元结构。
结果：关于分泌细胞的神经肽能神经支配（这里是粘液管状和浆膜细胞的形式），研究结果显示了许多含有VIP的神经，含有NPY和SP的神经很少，缺乏CGRP标记的神经。至于血管的神经肽能神经支配，含VIP的神经数量不多，while,正在研究的其他含神经肽的神经，仅观察到少数（SP和CGRP）到极少数（NPY）神经。至于硝化神经支配，含nNOS的神经在分泌细胞附近很少，甚至在血管周围也不存在。
结论：各种神经支配模式可能提示与主要舌下腺的分泌和血管反应有关的潜在传递机制。
方法：通过免疫组织化学检查人类主要舌下腺的活检和自体视标本是否存在血管活性肠肽（VIP）-，神经肽Y（NPY）-，P物质（SP）-，降钙素基因相关肽（CGRP）-，和神经元一氧化氮合酶（nNOS）标记的神经元结构。
结果：关于分泌细胞的神经肽能神经支配（这里是粘液管状和浆膜细胞的形式），研究结果显示了许多含有VIP的神经，含有NPY和SP的神经很少，缺乏CGRP标记的神经。至于血管的神经肽能神经支配，含VIP的神经数量不多，while,正在研究的其他含神经肽的神经，仅观察到少数（SP和CGRP）到极少数（NPY）神经。至于硝化神经支配，含nNOS的神经在分泌细胞附近很少，甚至在血管周围也不存在。
结论：各种神经支配模式可能提示与主要舌下腺的分泌和血管反应有关的潜在传递机制。
