Abstract:

To explore the effect of substances P(SP) and vasoactive intestinal peptide in the tongue base tissue on retrolingual obstruction in patients with obstructive sleep apneahypopnea syndrome (OSAHS). MethodsExpressions of SP and  vasoactive intestinal peptide in tongue base tissues of 49 patients with OSAHS were analyzed by immunohistochemical staining. ResultsThere were a lot of expressions of SP and vasoactive intestinal peptide in the tongue base tissues of OSAHS patients, which mainly lay in the submucosa tissue and small blood vessels around the gland acini and ducts. The positive expression rate of SP was 80.6% (25/31) and 33.3% (6/18) in those with hypertrophic tongue base and those without hypertrophic tongue base respectively (χ2=10.97, P=0.000?9). The positive expression rate of vasoactive intestinal peptide was 90.3% (28/31) and 55.6% (10/18) in the above mentioned two groups respectively (χ2=12.296?9, P=0.000?5). ConclusionsThere are a lot of expressions of SP and vasoactive intestinal peptide in the tongue base tissues of OSAHS patients, which causes local tissue swelling and participates in neurogenic inflammation, and then causes tongue base hypertrophy and collapse.

Key words:  Sleep apnea syndrome, Obstructive; Tongue base tissues; Substances P; Vasoactive intestinal peptide