Autonomic reinnervation and functional regeneration in autologous transplanted submandibular glands in patients with severe keratoconjunctivitis sicca.
10.1038/s41368-018-0014-1
- Author:
Xueming ZHANG
1
;
Ningyan YANG
1
;
Xiaojing LIU
1
;
Jiazeng SU
1
;
Xin CONG
2
;
Liling WU
2
;
Yan ZHANG
3
;
Guangyan YU
4
Author Information
1. Center for Salivary Gland Diseases and Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Beijing, China.
2. Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Peking University School of Basic Medical Sciences, and Key Laboratory of Molecular Cardiovascular Sciences, Ministry of Education, Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Receptors Research, Beijing, China.
3. Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Peking University School of Basic Medical Sciences, and Key Laboratory of Molecular Cardiovascular Sciences, Ministry of Education, Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Receptors Research, Beijing, China. zhangy18@bjmu.edu.cn.
4. Center for Salivary Gland Diseases and Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Beijing, China. gyyu@263.net.
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- MeSH:
Animals;
Autonomic Pathways;
growth & development;
Fascia;
innervation;
Female;
Humans;
Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca;
surgery;
Male;
Models, Animal;
Rabbits;
Recovery of Function;
Secretory Rate;
Submandibular Gland;
innervation;
transplantation;
Transplantation, Autologous
- From:
International Journal of Oral Science
2018;10(2):14-14
- CountryChina
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Autologous submandibular gland (SMG) transplantation has been proved to ameliorate the discomforts in patients with severe keratoconjunctivitis sicca. The transplanted glands underwent a hypofunctional period and then restored secretion spontaneously. This study aims to investigate whether autonomic nerves reinnervate the grafts and contribute to the functional recovery, and further determine the origin of these nerves. Parts of the transplanted SMGs were collected from the epiphora patients, and a rabbit SMG transplantation model was established to fulfill the serial observation on the transplanted glands with time. The results showed that autonomic nerves distributed in the transplanted SMGs and parasympathetic ganglionic cells were observed in the stroma of the glands. Low-dense and unevenly distributed cholinergic axons, severe acinar atrophy and fibrosis were visible in the patients' glands 4-6 months post-transplantation, whereas the cholinergic axon density and acinar area were increased with time. The acinar area or the secretory flow rate of the transplanted glands was statistically correlated with the cholinergic axon density in the rabbit model, respectively. Meanwhile, large cholinergic nerve trunks were found to locate in the temporal fascia lower to the gland, and sympathetic plexus concomitant with the arteries was observed both in the adjacent fascia and in the stroma of the glands. In summary, the transplanted SMGs are reinnervated by autonomic nerves and the cholinergic nerves play a role in the morphological and functional restoration of the glands. Moreover, these autonomic nerves might originate from the auriculotemporal nerve and the sympathetic plexus around the supplying arteries.
