Distribution of substance P in the human liver-light and electron microscopic study by the immunohistochemical techniques

• Published in: Kanzo Vol. 29; no. 3; pp. 358 - 364
• Main Authors: TORIMURA, Takuji, SIBMOTSUURA, Yasuhiro, ABE, Hirohiko, TANIKAWA, Kyuichi, SHAKADO, Satoshi, INUZUKA, Sadataka, YOSHITAKE, Masao, NOGUCHI, Kazunori, UENO, Takato
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: The Japan Society of Hepatology 1988
• Subjects: Substance P
• ISSN: 0451-4203; 1881-3593
• DOI: 10.2957/kanzo.29.358

Light and electron microscopic immunohistochemical techniques were used to examine the distribution and ultrastructure of substance P-containing nerves in the human liver. On the light microscopy, substance P-containing nerve fibers were present around the portal vein, bile duct and hepatic artery, along the sinusoid and hepatocytes, and around the central vein. On the electron microscopy, substance P-containing nerve endings which contain small and large round vesicles were present close to the fibroblast, Ito cell, Myofibroblast and endothelial cell around the portal vein, sinusoid and central vein. Moreover, substance P-containing nerve cell bodies were observed in the portal area, Disse's space and connective tissue around the central vein. These results suggest that substance P-containing nerves may play important roles in the contraction of the fibroblast, Ito cell, myofibroblast and endothelial cell, and in the regulation of hepatic hemodynamics.