The origin of autonomic nerves of the middle ear as studied by the horseradish peroxidase tracer method.

Autonomic innervation of the middle ear mucosa was investigated by the horseradish peroxidase retrograde tracing method. The middle ear mucosa was found to be sympathetically innervated by the fibres originating in the ipsilateral superior cervical ganglion, but not by those originating in the stellate ganglion. The middle ear mucosa was also innervated by the fibres originating in the ipsilateral pterygopalatine ganglion, suggesting this innervation to be parasympathetic.