No 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.

Oxybutynin is readily absorbed from the bladder after intravesical administration. The serum concentrations of oxybutynin after single 5 mg intravesical doses are at least as high as those reported after oral drug intake, but the parent drug/metabolite ratio is much higher after intravesical administration. The elimination of oxybutynin as well as its metabolite is prolonged after intravesical administration compared with that reported after oral drug intake. The mean number of daily toilet visits decreased significantly in the oxybutynin group.

Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) and enkephalins were demonstrated in the nerves of the human male urogenital tract by light and electron microscope immunohistochemical techniques. Nerves containing immunoreactivity to VIP were more numerous than enkephalin-immunoreactive nerves. Both VIP- and enkephalin-immunoreactive nerves were detected in the vas deferens, prostate, seminal vesicles, and urinary bladder. In the kidney, testis, and epididymis no immunoreactive nerves could be demonstrated. By electron microscope both types of immunoreactivities were localized to the large granular vesicles of nerve terminals. VIP-immunoreactive nerves were mostly found subepithelially, whereas enkephalin-immunoreactive nerves were mainly related to smooth muscle cells. The possible functions of these peptide-containing nerves are discussed.