The AChE-positive ganglia in the trachea and bronchi of the cat

The tracheal and bronchial parasympathetic ganglia in the cat were studied using the histochemical-tiocholine method of Koelle and Friedenwald and histological techniques. Intensively stained AChE-positive nerve structures, i.e., ganglia and nerve fibres on the wall of the trachea and bronchi, were observed. The ganglia were situated mainly on the dorso-lateral surface of these organs, but they were also present on the ventral surface. The largest ganglia were found in the vicinity of the vagus nerve branches and on the surface of the tracheal smooth muscle. Numerous ganglia (95–210) of different sizes (40 x 230 µm to 260 x 520 µm) and shapes (spindle, longitudinal, oval, elliptical and multiform) were interconnected by nerve fibres and formed a dense ganglionated plexus. The ganglia forming this nerve structure were located mainly on the level of intercartilaginous spaces. They received the nerve branches from the cervical and the upper thoracic branches of vagus nerve and cervical and upper thoracic segments of the sympathetic trunk. Similar AChE-positive ganglionated plexus containing 28–33 ganglia connected by nerve fibres was observed on the posterior wall of the bronchi. Histological investigations confirmed the presence of fascicles of nerve fibers and nerve cells aggregations in the external membrane of the trachea and bronchi. The ganglia consisted of 2–25 cells on the cross-section. They were located mainly on the level of intercartilaginous spaces and contained (except ganglionic neurocytes, nerve fibres) satellite cells and small blood vessels. All the ganglia had thin connective capsule

Morphology, topography and cytoarchitectonics of the pterygopalatine ganglion in Egyptian spiny mouse (Acomys cahirinus, Desmarest)

Using the thiocholine method of Koelle and Friedenwald and histological techniques the pterygopalatine ganglion in Egyptian spiny mouse (Acomys cahirinus, Desmarest) was studied. The ganglion was found to be a single irregular cluster of neurocytes, situated on the medial surface of the maxillary nerve. The ganglion is composed of oval, elliptical and sometimes fusiform ganglionic neurones in compact arrangement without a thick connective-tissue capsule

Morphology, topography and cytoarchitectonics of the otic ganglion in Egyptian spiny mouse (Acomys cahirinus, Desmarest)

Using the thiocholine method of Koelle and Friedenwald and histological techniques, the otic ganglion in Egyptian spiny mouse (Acomys cahirinus, Desmarest) was studied. The ganglion was found to be a single oval cluster of neurocytes, situated at the medial and posterior surface of the mandibular nerve just above the maxillary artery. The ganglion is composed of typical ganglionic neurons in compact arrangement without a thick connective-tissue capsule

Morphology and immunohistochemical characteristics of the otic ganglion in the chinchilla (Chinchilla laniger Molina)

Introduction. The available literature provides relatively little information on the morphology of the autonomic head ganglia in rodents including their neurochemical codding. Material and methods. Morphological investigations of the otic ganglion of the chinchilla were performed using the modified acetylcholinesterase method. The cellular structure was investigated with histological techniques and neurochemical properties were studied with the double-labelling immunofluorescence method. Results. Macromorphological investigations allowed the otic ganglion to be identified as a compact, oval agglomeration of neurons and nerve fibers. Multidimensional cross-sections revealed densely arranged neuronal perikarya and two populations of nerve cells differing in size were distinguished. The large cells (40–50 µm) accounted for about 80% of the neurons in the cross-sections. Moreover, a small number of intraganglionic nerve fibers was observed. Immunohistochemical staining revealed that over 85% of the neuronal cell bodies in the otic ganglion contained immunoreactivity to VAChT or ChAT. VIP-immunoreactive perikarya comprised approximately 10% of the ganglionic cells. Double staining revealed the presence of VAChT+ and NOS+ neurons which amounted to about 45% of the nerve cells in the otic ganglion. NOS+ only perikarya comprised approx. 15% of all the neurons. Immunoreactivity to enkephalins, substance P, somatostatin, and galanin was expressed in single nerve cell bodies and nerve fibers except numerous substance P+ intraganglionic nerve fibers. Some of them were stained also for CGRP. Single neurons stained for tyroxine hydroxylase. Conclusions. Our results, compared with findings in other rodent species suggest the existence of interspecies differences in the morphology, cellular structure, and immunohistochemical properties of the head autonomic ganglia in mammals

Cholinergic and adrenergic innervation of the pancreas in chinchilla (Chinchilla Laniger Molina)

Introduction. Cholinergic and adrenergic innervation of the pancreas in chinchilla (Chinchilla Laniger Molina) was examined in this study. The pancreas is both an exocrine and endocrine gland with autonomic and sensory innervation presented by the numerous nerve fibers and small agglomerations of nerve cells. Material and methods. Investigations were performed on 16 adult chinchillas of both sexes. The material was collected immediately after death of the animals. Histochemical methods: AChE and SPG were used, in addition to routine technique of single and double immunohistochemical (IHC) staining using whole mount specimens and freezing sections with a thickness of 8 to 12 μm. In the immunofluorescence staining, primary antibodies directed against markers used to identify cholinergic — ChAT and VAChT, and adrenergic — DbH and TH neurons. Secondary antibodies were coupled to Alexa Fluor 488 and Alexa Fluor 555 fluorophores. Results. Histochemical studies (AChE) revealed that chinchilla pancreatic cholinergic innervation consisted of ganglionic neurocytes and numerous nerve fibers. These structures are located in the parenchyma of the exocrine part of the organ in close proximity to blood vessels and are present within the walls of the pancreatic ducts and interstitial connective tissue. A delicate fiber network around the Langerhans islets was also observed. The most numerous cholinergic structures were found in the head and tail, and the least numbers were found in the body of the pancreas. The SPG method revealed that adrenergic fibers form a network in the adventitia of blood vessels, and individual fibers run throughout the pancreatic parenchyma. Moreover, adrenergic nerve fibers were observed around the ganglionic neurocytes. This innervation was similar in all parts of the investigated organ. IHC investigations allowed observations of both the cholinergic and adrenergic activities of autonomic nerve structures. Additionally, using ChAT/DbH double staining, colocalization of these substances was observed in the fibers of the pancreatic parenchyma that passed through the cholinergic ganglia. Colocalization of VAChT and TH was found in nerve fibers of the exocrine part, in the walls of blood vessels, and in individual nerve cells. Colocalization of ChAT/DbH and VAChT/TH was observed in the single nerve cells and in the small (2–3 cell) ganglia. ChAT- and DbH-immunopositive nerve fibers were found in the area of the islets of Langerhans. Conclusions. The results indicate a more intense cholinergic innervation of the chinchilla’s pancreas, which is represented by both ganglia and nerve fibers, while adrenergic structures are mainly represented by fibers and only single neurocytes. This arrangement of the investigated structures in this species may imply a major role for hormonal control of exocrine secretion in rodents

Distribution and neurochemical characteristic of the cardiac nerve structures in the heart of chinchilla (Chinchilla laniger Molina)

Introduction. The heart innervation is made up of plexo-ganglionic formation containing sympathetic, parasympathetic, and sensory components. We examined the distribution and neurochemical coding of the ganglia and nerve fibers in the chinchilla’s heart. Material and methods. The heart sections of 10 male and 10 female adult chinchillas were processed in accordance with the thiocholine method for acetylcholine esterase (AChE), and the SPG method for detecting the presence of adrenergic fibers was applied. The routine technique of immunohistochemical (IHC) staining with primary antibodies directed against ChAT, VAChT, DbH, TH, CART, NPY, VIP, GAL and SOM was used. The secondary antibodies were conjugated with Alexa Fluor 488 and Alexa Fluor 555 fluorophores. Results. The epicardium contained ganglia and nerve fibers, the myocardium had a few ganglion neurocytes and nerve fibers, and the endocardium contained only nerve fibers. In the epicardium, AChE-positive fibers were more prevalent than SPG-positive fibers. All the ganglion cells were immunopositive for ChAT and VAChT. Some cells also had a positive reaction to DbH and TH. Fibers containing cholinergic and adrenergic markers were numerous, while many of them were ChAT/DbH- and VAChT/TH-positive. CART/NPY and CART/VIP, as well as CART and GAL, were observed to be colocalized in ganglion neurocytes, as well as in individual cells. The nerve fibers were found to contain all the neurotransmitters we tested for, as well as the following co-occurrences: ChAT/DbH, VAChT/TH, CART/NPY, CART/VIP, CART/GAL, and CART/SOM. Conclusions. Our analysis of the neurochemical profile of the nerve structures in chinchilla’s heart showed that, despite interspecies differences, the general pattern of the distribution of autonomic nervous system structures is similar to that of other mammals’ species, including humans