Substance P-like immunoreactive nerves in the anterior segment of the rabbit, cat and monkey eye

The indirect immunofluorescence technique demonstrates a substance P-like immunoreactive innervation to the anterior segment of the rabbit, cat and monkey eye. In all three species there is a sparse, but definite, corneal innervation. For the rabbit, substance P-like immunoreactive nerves to the aqueous outflow apparatus are found chiefly in the pectinate ligament. In the cat, this innervation is somewhat more extensive, being seen in the septae of the ciliary cleft as well. The monkey has a more plentiful innervation to the outflow apparatus than either the cat or the rabbit. Substance P-like immunoreactive nerves are visible in the trabecular meshwork and at the inner and outer walls of Schlemm's canal. For all three animals, the iris contains immunoreactive nerve fibers to the sphincter muscle, to the large blood vessels and to the anterior stromal melanocytes. In the ciliary body, the ciliary processes receive a constant innervation; it is somewhat more dense in the rabbit. Some of the large ciliary body blood vessels also are innervated. Ciliary body melanocytes are innervated; it was not possible to determine whether or not immunoreactive fibers innervate the ciliary muscle cells as well. The present study extends prior knowledge of the innervation of the eye. Taken with the known physiologic effects of substance P, it indicates a series of potential roles for this peptide in the vegetative processes of the eye.