[Histochemical study of adrenergic nerve fibers in the skeletal muscle of the rat].
The distribution of adrenergic nerve fibers in the vessels, nerves, and skeletal muscles of the rat was studied by the glyoxylic acid fluorescence method and by electron microscopy. The changes in catecholamine fluorescence were investigated after decentralization, lumbar sympathectomy, and femoral nerve ligation. Catecholamine fluorescence was mainly localized in the arteries, and arterioles in the perimysium of the skeletal muscle. Sometimes, a spot-shaped catecholamine was seen in the metarteriole and capillary. Adrenergic nerve fibers ran parallel with femoral nerve fibers. After lumbar sympathectomy catecholamine fluorescence disappeared, the fluorescence in the quadriceps femoris muscle did not disappear even after ligation of the femoral nerve. Unmyelinated nerve fibers were identified adjacent to the capillary, whereas adrenergic nerve fibers were seen approaching to the quadriceps femoris muscle within a gap of 300 nm.
Chiba
M
M
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Akita University School of Medicine, Japan.
D000320:Adrenergic Fibers / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D000818:Animals; D001158:Arteries / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009132:Muscles / Q000098:blood supply / Q000294:innervation* / Q000378:metabolism; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D012039:Regional Blood Flow
D009638:Norepinephrine