Ultrastructural evidence for adrenergic innervation of the interstitial gland in the guinea pig ovary.
Fluorescence microscopy has shown that the guinea pig ovary contains not only vasomotor adrenergic nerves but also many nerve terminals running within endocrine structures. Electron microscopy of the interstitial gland confirmed the presence of adrenergic nerves distinguished by administration of the false transmitter, 5-hydroxydropamine. Axon varicosities, denuded of their Schwann cell ensheathing, innervated the endocrine cells in the interstitial gland, with a synaptic distance of approximately 400 A. This suggests that the interstitial gland participates in a neuroendocrine transducer mechanism.
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems; D010053:Ovary / Q000294:innervation* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D013569:Synapses / Q000648:ultrastructure