Autonomic Innervation of the Salivary Glands in Cebid Monkeys: A Histochemical Study

Abstract

The autonomic innervation of the major and minor salivary glands was studied in five species of cebid monkeys using acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and catecholamine histochemistry. Catecholamine-containing and AChE-positive nerve fibres were observed in the vessels and secretory endpieces of all glands, with no apparent predominance of one type over the other. In the intralobular ducts, however, the cholinergic innervation predominates. In the major salivary and minor sublingual glands the density of the nervous supply was higher, whereas in the secondary mandibular and posterior lingual glands it was less dense. The morphological patterns of salivary gland innervation found in Cebidae are compared with those of the related family Callitrichidae.

Immunohistochemical characterisation of neurons in the mandibular ganglion and nerve fibres supplying the porcine mandibular gland

“…Double immunostainings have confirmed, for the first time, that cholinergic and adrenergic nerve terminals supplying the mammalian (porcine) salivary gland represent separate populations of nerve fibres. A similar distribution of adrenergic axons supplying the MGl has been demonstrated in the rat and cebid monkey (Soinila et al 1991a;Soinila et al 1991b;Rossoni et al 1992). In the rat, nerve fibres exhibiting immunoreactivity to the adrenergic marker tyrosine hydroxylase were also observed in association with the acini and intraand interlobular salivary ducts, and around blood vessels.…”

“…The VAChT-positive nerve fibres surrounded intra-and interlobular salivary ducts and were also observed around the acini. The general distribution of cholinergic nerve terminals in the porcine MGl is similar to that of AChE-positive axons found in the cebid monkey (Rossoni et al 1992) as well as in the cow, Figure 11. Gel electrophoresis of RT-PCR products corresponding to mRNA encoding the porcine neuropeptides and neurotransmitter-synthesising enzymes in the mandibular ganglion.…”

“…In the rat, nerve fibres exhibiting immunoreactivity to the adrenergic marker tyrosine hydroxylase were also observed in association with the acini and intraand interlobular salivary ducts, and around blood vessels. Investigations dealing with the monkey MGl (Rossoni et al 1992) utilised histochemical methods to visualise adrenergic nerve elements.…”