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. 2017 Dec;10(4):321-324.
doi: 10.21053/ceo.2017.00129. Epub 2017 Sep 5.

Substance P and Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide in the Glands of External Auditory Canal Skin

Yong Joo Yoon  1 , Jin Yoon  2 , Eun Jung Lee  1 , Jong Seung Kim  1
Affiliations

Substance P and Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide in the Glands of External Auditory Canal Skin

Yong Joo Yoon et al. Clin Exp Otorhinolaryngol. 2017 Dec.

Abstract

Objectives: The earwax (cerumen) that covers external auditory canal (EAC) skin contains a mixture of ceruminous and sebaceous gland substances, such as lipids, peptides, and proteins. The components secreted from the ceruminous gland that is a modified sweat gland form cerumen and contain several antimicrobial factors. Since substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), known as a secretagogue, have been found in sweat glands, our purpose was to determine the expression of SP and CGRP in the glands of EAC skin.

Methods: Sections of normal human EAC skins were immunostained for the presence of SP and CGRP using polyclonal antibodies. Immunoreactivity was detected using an avidin-biotin peroxidase complex method.

Results: SP staining was found in ceruminous gland acini and myoepithelial cells. But the SP staining was not found in the sebaceous glands and epidermal region. CGRP was strongly stained in the ceruminous gland and weakly in the sebaceous gland cells. Interestingly, most prominent staining of SP and CGRP was noted in the myoepithelial cells of the ceruminous gland.

Conclusion: The findings in this study suggest that SP and CGRP are expressed in the glands of the EAC skin and secreted in the process of ceruminous gland secretion.

Keywords: Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; External Auditory Canal; Gland; Substance P.

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Conflict of interest statement

No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Hematoxylin and eosin staining in the ceruminous gland (A) and sebaceous gland (B). The ceruminous gland is a simple coiled tubular gland. The gland is lined by a single layer of secretory cells resting on myoepithelial cells (white arrows). The glandular epithelium is cuboidal or columnar and has protrusions (black arrows) extending to the lumen of the tubule. cg, ceruminous gland; sg, sebaceous gland (H&E,×200).
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Immunohistochemical labelling of substance P (SP) using an avidin-biotin peroxidase complex method in the external auditory canal skin. (A) SP positive staining is not noted in the epithelium of external auditory canal skin (×200), (B) higher magnification (× 400). (C) SP immunoreactivity is found in ceruminous gland (cg) especially in myoepithelial cells (white arrows) (×200). (D) SP immunoreactivity is not observed in sebaceous gland (sg) cells (×200). ep, epithelium; dm, dermis.
Fig. 3.
Fig. 3.
Immunohistochemical labelling of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) using an avidin-biotin peroxidase complex method in the external auditory canal skin. (A) CGRP positive staining is prominently noted in the suprabasal portion of epithelium (×100). (B) Positive stained cells contain granular and prickle cell layers, in the epithelium (black arrows) (×200). (C, D) Reactions for CGRP were generally moderate in the secretory cells (black arrows), with their myoepithelial cells (white arrows) showing a stronger reaction. The CGRP staining in the sebaceous gland (sg) is somewhat weak, compared to other regions. ep, epithelium; dm, dermis; cg, ceruminous gland. (C, ×100; D, ×200).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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