[Immunoreactive somatostatin in the peripheral olfactory system and nasal mucosa of the human].

Immunohistochemically, the cyclic retradecapeptide somatostatin was demonstrated in periglomerular cells and fibres of the glomerular layer (Fig. 3) of the human olfactory bulb as well as in the superficial granule layer and fibres (Fig. 2) of the olfactory tract. Additionally, somatostatin was found in endothelial cells of subepithelial arterioles and capillaries of the regio olfactoria (Fig. 4a, b) and superior turbinate. We assume that somatostatin has a paracrine transmitter function in the peripheral olfactory system and a regulative function on the blood flow of the superior nasal mucosa.