Distribution of peptidergic nerve fibers in rat bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue: light microscopic observations

The localization of neuropeptide Y (NPY), substance P (SP), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) in the nerve fibers of rat bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue (BALT) was investigated by light microscopic immunohistochemistry. Nerve fiber bundles revealing NPY-like immunoreactivity were shown to enter the BALT together with pulmonary artery branches. They frequently reached the central zone of the BALT to give rise to fine, tortuous fibers. On the other hand, nerve fibers immunoreactive for SP and CGRP seemed to distribute in the subepithelial zone of the BALT after dissociating from fiber networks in the walls of bronchi, although small numbers of SP and CGRP fibers were also seen in the BALT central zone. CGRP fibers formed a more intense network than SP fibers in the BALT. Scattered VIP fibers were found only in the subepithelial zone of the BALT. These findings not only suggest that the four kinds of peptidergic fibers act on BALT in multiple ways, but also that these neuropeptides may be involved in the control of mucosal immunity, lymphocyte migration and proliferation within the BALT.