Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide and neuropeptide-Y, as possible mediators in laryngeal oedema. An immunofluorescence study.

Little attention has been paid to the autonomic innervation of the human vocal cord. Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) and Neuropeptide-Y (NPY) are of interest because of their association with the autonomic nervous system. These neuropeptides have not been studied in the human vocal cord by immunofluorescence technique. Both neuropeptides were found in the connective tissue close to the basal layer of the mucosa, around glandular structures and arterial walls. Comments are made about the role these peptides might play in the physiopathology of vocal cord oedema.