Evidence of nNOS and ChAT positive phenotypes in nervous ganglia of the retrostyloid space

The cholinergic and nitrergic phenotypes in human fetal ganglia (inferior) of the glossopharyngeal and vagus nerves were overlooked in basic research. Lack of a positive neuronal NO synthase (nNOS) phenotype in the inferior vagal fetal ganglion was recently suggested to be an individually variable phenotype. Choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) was not evaluated previously in ontogenesis. We aimed to evaluate these phenotypes in human midterm fetuses. Samples from five specimens with gestational ages varying from 4 to 6 months were used. Immunohistochemistry for nNOS, ChAT, neurofilaments, and S100 protein was performed. Neuronal somata were positively stained for nNOS, ChAT and neurofilaments in the inferior glossopharyngeal and vagal ganglia. S100 protein distinctively labelled the satellite glial cells ensheating the respective neurons. In human midterm fetuses vagal and glossopharyngeal inferior ganglia are nitrergic and cholinergic. To evaluate a functional role of these phenotypes in ontogenesis, the specific anatomic circuits should be further checked. Differences in immune labelling should be evaluated by use of similar antibodies from different manufacturers.