A time course study with enkephalin (Enk)-like immunoreactivity has revealed that nerve fibers intensely immunoreactive for Enk-8 appeared transiently only during the postnatal week 2 and 4 within the acini as well as in the inter- and intralobular connective tissues of the submandibular gland of rats. At these stages numerous nerve fibers immunoreactive for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) appeared also in the inter- and intralobular connective tissues and within the acini. Coincidently with these postnatal stages, abundant Enk-immunoreactive principal ganglion cells appeared in the superior cervical ganglion. These were not immunoreactive for neuropeptide tyrosine (NPY). A substantial number of Enk-immunoreactive ganglion cells were also present in the submandibular ganglia at these younger postnatal stages. Superior cervical ganglionectomy at these stages resulted in a marked decrease in number of the inter- and intralobular Enk-immunoreactive nerve fibers, a slight decrease in number of the intraacinar Enk-immunoreactive nerve fibers, and almost complete disappearance of intraglandular TH-immunoreactive nerve fibers. Immuno-electron-microscopic analysis revealed that Enk-immunoreactive nerve fibers in the submandibular gland were identified as electron-dense neuronal profiles enclosed by Schwann cells in the inter- and intralobular connective tissues and those directly apposed to secretory cells within the acini. They contained small clear vesicles mixed with some large granular vesicles. After postnatal week 6, no Enk-immunoreactive nerve fibers were detected in the submandibular gland, and no TH-immunoreactive nerve fibers were seen within the acini, while TH-immunoreactive nerve fibers remained numerous in the inter- and intralobular connective tissues. These findings indicate that both sympathetic and parasympathetic nerve fibers exhibit Enk-like immunoreactivity transiently during postnatal weeks 2 and 4.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)