Autonomic innervation of the middle ear

The distribution of nerve fibers in the middle ear mucosa and eardrum of the cat and guinea pig was studied using immunocytochemical and histofluorescence techniques. Nerve fibers containing noradrenaline, vasoactive intestinal peptide, substance P, enkephalin or immunoreactive avian pancreatic polypeptide were demonstrated in the middle ear mucosa. After extirpation of the superior cervical ganglion, nerve fibers containing noradrenaline and avian pancreatic polypeptide disappeared while fibers containing vasoactive intestinal peptide, substance P and enkephalin seemed to remain unaffected.