Substance P (SP)-containing fibers in the incisive papillae of rat hard palates, which include various components of sensory receptors, i.e. mechanoreceptors, free nerve endings and chemosensory corpuscles (taste buds), were examined using immunoperoxidase techniques and light and electron microscopes. Immunolabeled fibers were consistently distributed in the medial part of the orifice of the incisive canals, i.e. in the taste-bud-enriched region. Dense immunolabeled fibers were found in subgemmal regions and in the lamina propria papillae. Some fine fibers entered and ascended the taste buds or occasionally the epithelium outside the taste buds. In addition, a rich innervation by SP-containing fibers close to blood capillaries was clearly identified. Electron microscopy revealed no specialized synaptic contact between the immunolabeled fibers and taste bud cells. Synaptic-like images could be found only between nonimmunolabeled nerve endings and the underlying taste bud cells. In the lamina propria papillae, mechanoreceptors observed in the present study contained no immunoperoxidase end products, whereas free nerve endings with an immunolabeled small-diameter axon (630-730 nm in diameter) were frequent. Similar axons were located at the adventitia of the blood capillaries. The possible functional role of SP-containing fibers in the incisive papillae was given attention.