Anat Cell Biol.  2016 Jun;49(2):132-137. 10.5115/acb.2016.49.2.132.

Human nasociliary nerve with special reference to its unique parasympathetic cutaneous innervation

• Hosaka F
• Yamamoto M
• Cho KH
• Jang HS
• Murakami G
• Abe SI

• KMID: 2308920
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5115/acb.2016.49.2.132

Abstract

The frontal nerve is characterized by its great content of sympathetic nerve fibers in contrast to cutaneous branches of the maxillary and mandibular nerves. However, we needed to add information about composite fibers of cutaneous branches of the nasociliary nerve. Using cadaveric specimens from 20 donated cadavers (mean age, 85), we performed immunohistochemistry of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP). The nasocilliary nerve contained abundant nNOS-positive fibers in contrast to few TH- and VIP-positive fibers. The short ciliary nerves also contained nNOS-positive fibers, but TH-positive fibers were more numerous than nNOS-positive ones. Parasympathetic innervation to the sweat gland is well known, but the original nerve course seemed not to be demonstrated yet. The present study may be the first report on a skin nerve containing abundant nNOS-positive fibers. The unique parasympathetic contents in the nasocilliary nerve seemed to supply the forehead sweat glands as well as glands in the eyelid and nasal epithelium.

Keyword

Nasocialliary nerve; Neuronal nitric oxide synthase; Sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves; Immunohistochemistry; Human anatomy

MeSH Terms

Cadaver
Eyelids
Forehead
Humans*
Immunohistochemistry
Mandibular Nerve
Nasal Mucosa
Nerve Fibers
Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I
Skin
Sweat Glands
Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase
Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide
Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I
Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase
Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Topographical anatomy of the nasociliary and frontal nerves (a 78-year-old woman). Frontal section of the right eye. Hematoxylin and eosin staining. In the present study, the nasociliary nerve (NCN) was identified in a large frontal section including the posterior pole of the eye ball (scale bar=10 mm) and we traced the nerve anteriorly toward the skin. An insert at the lower angle is a higher magnification view of a square including the nasociliary nerve (scale bar=1 mm). FN, frontal nerve; LPS, levator palpebrae superioris muscle; ON, optic nerve; OS, obliquus superior muscle; RI, rectus inferior muscle; RL, rectus lateralis muscle; RM, rectus medialis muscle; RS, rectus superior muscle.

• 

  Fig. 2 Immunohistochemistr y of nerves (a 78-year-old woman). The specimen same as in Fig. 1. Frontal sections almost 2 mm anterior to Fig. 1. (A–D) The nasocilliary nerve (A–C, near sections). (E–G) A ciliary nerve (near sections). (H–J) The frontal nerve (near sections). (A, D, E, H) Immunohistochemistry of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (NOS). (B, F, I) Immunohistochemistry of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP). (C, G, J) Immunohistochemistry of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH). The nasociliary nerve contains abundant NOS-positive nerve fibers, while TH-positive fibers are dominant in the frontal nerve. A branch of the nasociliary nerve contains NOS-positive ganglion cells (D). All panels are prepared at the same magnification. Scale bar=0.1 mm.

• 

  Fig. 3 Immunohistochemistry of nerves (an 89-year-old man). Frontal sections. (A–D) The nasocilliary nerve (A–C, near sections). (E–G) A ciliary nerve (near sections). (H–J) The frontal nerve (near sections). (A, D, E, H) Immunohistochemistry of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (NOS). (B, F, I) Immunohistochemistry of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP). (C, G, J) Immunohistochemistry of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH). The nasocilliary nerve contain abundant NOS-positive nerve fibers, while TH-positive fibers are dominant in the frontal nerve. (D) A branch of the nasocilliary nerve. All panels are prepared at the same magnification. Scale bar=0.1 mm.

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