We have explored the innervation of the rainbow trout
(O. mykiss) liver using immunohistochemical
procedures and light microscopy to detect in situ protein gene
product 9.5 and neuronal nitric oxide
synthase immunoreactivities (PGP-IR and NOS-IR). The results
showed PGP-IR nerve fibres running with
the extralobular biliary duct (EBD), hepatic artery (EHA) and
portal vein (EPV) that form the hepatic
hilum, as well as following the spatial distribution of the
intrahepatic blood vessel and biliary channels.
These nerve fibres appear as single varicose processes, thin
bundles, or thick bundles depending on their
diameter and location in the wall of the blood vessel or biliary
duct. No PGP-IR fibres were detected in the
liver parenchyma. NOS-IR nerve fibres were located only in the
vessels and ducts that form the hepatic
hilum (EBD, EHA, EPV); in addition, NOS-IR nerve cell bodies were found
isolated or forming
ganglionated plexuses in the peribiliary fibromuscular tissue of
the EBD. No PGP-IR ganglionated plexuses
were detected in the EBD. The location of the general (PGP-IR)
and nitrergic (nNOS-IR) intrinsic nerves of
the trout liver suggest a conserved evolutionary role of the
nervous control of hepatic blood flow and hepatobiliary activity.