Fluorescence histochemical observations on the sympathetic nerves in spinal ganglia of rat

Abstract

The present paper aims at investigation of the adrenergic innervation of spinal ganglia of rats (15 rats) by the fluorescence histochemical method. It is confirmed that the sympathetic adrenergic nerves exist in dorsal root sensory ganglion, and their CA-containing terminals with varicosities show specific and intensive fluorescence encircling the ganglion-satellite cell complexes, some of which are in close contact resembling synapses in shape. It is suggested that in the spinal ganglia of the rat there might be synaptic connections existing between the terminals of sympathetic nerve and the sensory neurons. The present paper provides some morphological basis for Santini’s theory of peripheral “Sympatheticsensory Loop”.

Keywords

catecholamine fluorescence / sympathetic nerve / spinal ganglion

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