Distribution of Autonomic Neurotransmitters in the Human Vocal Fold

인간의 성대조직에서 자율신경 전달물질의 분포

The vocal fold has three major function-phonation, respiration and protection, and is richly innervated. The vocal 1314 its autonomic innervation-adrenergic and cholinergic from superior cervical ganglion and the vagus nerve, respectively. The action of both system account for vasoregulation and glandular activity. In e vocal fold several kin of neuropeptides, including SP, CGRP, VIP, TH, NPY, ENK have been reported at the animal including cat or dog. But information regarding the distribution of autonomic nerve fibers containing neuropeptides in the human vocal fold is lacking. Two neuropeptides are of special interest : 1) vasoactive intestinal polypeptide(VIP)that is known to be contained in the parasympathetic(cholinergic) neuron. 2) tyrosine hydroxylase(TH)is located in the cytoplasm of noradrenergic neuron and is the rate-limiting enzyme in noradrenaline synthesis. To understand specific autonomic function of vocal fold we did immunohistochemical examination of VIP and TH in the human vocal fold.