Acetyl-cholinesterase and mono-amine-oxidase activities in the microganglia of the thyroid gland in the rat.
The nervous microganglia of the thyroid gland have been studied in forty adult male rats, their morphology being analyzed by the osmium-zinc iodide technique their acetyl-cholinesterase activity (AChE) by an histochemical specific technique and their mono-amine-oxidase activity (MAO) by a tetrazolium technique. Few but constant microganglia were observed in the thyroid glands. These microganglia are formed by some 4 to 8 nerve cells. Intense mono-amine-oxidase activity (MAO) was found in the nerve cells of these microganglia, being absent in the rest of the thyroid gland. Intense specific acetyl-cholinesterase (AChE) was observed in the nerve cells scattered along nerve branches located in the connective tissue (single nerve cells or small cellular groups). AChE activity was not observed in the microganglia of the thyroid gland.
Lopez-Muñiz
A
A
Department of Morphology and Cellular Biology, Medical Faculty, University of Ovideo, Spain.
Llamas
R M
RM
Lopez-Alba
A
A
Bengoechea
E
E
Perez-Casas
A
A
D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D005724:Ganglia / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000294:innervation* / Q000648:ultrastructure
D008995:Monoamine Oxidase; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase