Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 12, 2026

A Method of Nodose Ganglia Injection in Sprague-Dawley Rat
Published on: November 25, 2014
Substance P-, VIP-, and enkephalin-like immunoreactivity in the human vagus nerve
Abstract:
The human vagus nerve has been investigated for the presence of substance P (SP), vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), and enkephalin (ENK) using immunohistochemistry. After 0.5-4 hr of nerve ligation during surgical operations two right thoracic main truncs, two anterior subdiaphragmal trunks, and four anterior nerves of Latarjet were found to contain accumulation of immunoreactive material in nerve fibers above the ligation. Very high numbers of SP-, medium numbers of ENK-, and low number of VIP-immunoreactive fibers were seen. The relative proportions were similar at all levels studied. These data thus indicate the presence and axonal transport of SP-, ENK-, and VIP-like peptides in the human vagus nerve. Our observations in humans correlate well with results obtained from other species. Thus gastrointestinal vagal sensory mechanisms may be mediated by SP (and possibly VIP) and some motor mechanisms by ENK.
Related Concept Videos
Local Anesthetics: Differential Sensitivity of Nerve Fibers
Sympathetic Pathways: Sympathetic Chain Ganglia
Cranial Part of Parasympathetic Division
The vagus nerve (cranial nerve X) alone accounts for approximately 75...
Pathophysiology of Vomiting
Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists
Nerve Supply of the GI Tract
The enteric nervous system consists of two major plexuses: the myenteric plexus (Auerbach's plexus) and the submucosal plexus (Meissner's plexus). These plexuses are located within the layers of the GI tract...

