Basic innervation pattern and distribution of classic autonomic neurotransmitters in human nasal mucosal vasculature.

The neural control of human nasal vasculature is still not completely understood. This study was performed to demonstrate the innervation pattern of the different vessel types and to distinguish between nor-adrenergic and cholinergic structures. General innervation was demonstrated using antibodies to neuron-specific enolase and S-100 protein. Autonomic structures were shown by using antibodies to tyrosine hydroxylase and choline acetyltransferase (ChAT). In addition, choline acetyltransferase (AChe) histochemistry was performed. Nasal vasculature is controlled by a dense innervation that increases with the thickness of the tunica media. While all larger vessels show a mixed autonomic innervation, sympathetic structures seem to predominate in veins. These findings demonstrate that classic neurotransmitters play a major role in the regulation of nasal vasculature. The stronger innervation of arteries and cushion veins underlines their central position in the control of nasal air flow.