Immunohistochemical localisation of regulatory neuropeptides in human circumvallate papillae.

The occurrence and distribution of neuropeptide-containing nerve fibres in the human circumvallate papillae were examined by the peroxidase-antiperoxidase immunolocalisation method using surgical specimens that had not been subjected to radiotherapy, and the abundance of neuropeptide-containing fibres was expressed as the percentage of total nerve fibres demonstrated by protein gene product (PGP) 9.5 immunoreactivity for a quantitative representation of these peptidergic fibres. Substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) immunoreactive (IR) nerve fibres were densely distributed in the connective tissue core of the circumvallate papillae, and some SP and CGRP-IR fibres were associated with the taste buds. A moderate number of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)-IR fibres and a few galanin (GAL)-IR fibres were also seen in the connective tissue core and subepithelial layer. There were, however, no VIP-IR or GAL-IR fibres associated with the taste buds. Neuropeptide Y (NPY)-IR fibres were few and were associated with the blood vessels. Within the epithelium of the circumvallate papillae, no peptidergic fibres were found, although a number of PGP 9.5-IR fibres were detected. The abundance of SP, CGRP, VIP, and GAL-IR fibres expressed as the percentage of total PGP 9.5 IR fibres was 25.35+/-3.45%, 22.18+/-3.26%, 10.23+/-1.18%, and 4.12+/-1.05%, respectively. The percentage of NPY-IR fibres was below 3%. In a deeper layer of the papillae, a few VIP, GAL, and NPY-IR ganglion cells were found, and VIP immunoreactivity was detected in a few cells of the taste buds. There was no somatostatin, leucine enkephalin, or methionine enkephalin immunoreactivity in the circumvallate papillae. These results suggest that the dense SP and CGRP-IR fibres within the connective tissue core of the human circumvallate papillae may be involved in the deep sensation of the tongue.