Regulatory peptides in the human soft palate.

The distributions of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, peptide, histidine methionine, helospectin, neuropeptide Y and its C-flanking peptide, substance P and calcitonin gene-related peptide were studied in the human soft palate using immunocytochemical techniques. Peptide-containing nerve fibers were found to form a dense network around glandular acini, excretory ducts and blood vessels, as well as beneath and within the epithelium. Chromogranin A, bombesin-flanking peptide and calcitonin gene-related peptide immunoreactivities were detected in endocrine-like cells located in excretory ducts.