Nerve fibers showing immunoreactivities for proenkephalin A-derived peptides in the lacrimal glands of the guinea pig.

The extra- and intraorbital lacrimal glands of guinea pigs were studied for the presence and distribution of enkephalin-like immunoreactive nerve fibers. Four specific antisera against the four different enkephalin sequences contained in pre-proenkephalin A (Met-Enk, Met-Enk-Arg-Phe, Met-Enk-Arg-Gly-Leu, and Leu-Enk) were used. All of these immunoreactivities were identically distributed in varicose nerve fibers in both the extra- and intraorbital lacrimal glands. These fibers densely surrounded the glandular acini and also innervated the secretory ducts. Sympathetic denervation had no effect on these nerve fibers. The results suggest that enkephalins derived from proenkephalin A may play a role in the nervous control of the lacrimal secretion.