Innervation of human nasal glands

Summary The innervation of human nasal glands was investigated with the electron microscope in 14 males and 11 females using osmium and permangante fixed material. Acetylcholinesterase activity was localized electron microscopically in formalin fixed tissues.It was found that the tubuloalveolar glands possessed myoepithelial cells which extended over the basal surfaces of the secretory cells and were attached to them by desmosomes. The glands were supplied by fenestrated capillaries. Periacinar and intraepithelial nerves of the glands exhibited high positive acetylcholinesterase and negative butyrocholinesterase activity. The reaction product was localized in the interval between the axolemma and the cell membranes of the secretory, myoepithelial or Schwann cells, respectively. The axon varicosities of the periacinar nerves and the intraepithelial endings contained accumulations of agranular vesicles in preparations fixed with osmic acid, formalin or permanganate solutions, signifying cholinergic nerves. The blood vessels of the nasal glands were supplied by cholinergic and adrenergic nerves.