title: Ultrastructural detection of granulated cells in the autonomic ganglia of the rat pancreas.
abstract: Electron microscopic examination of the intrinsic autonomic ganglia of the rat pancreas revealed the presence of small cells, when compared to the principal ganglionic neurons, within a particular type of ganglia. The small cells were often located in clusters around fenestrated capillaries, but their most striking characteristic was the presence of catecholamine-like granules distributed throughout the cytoplasm. The possible implication of this new source of catecholamines, acting either as interneurons or as neuroendocrine cells, is discussed in the light of a local regulatory mechanism for islet secretion.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000166:cytology; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000378:metabolism; D005725:Ganglia, Autonomic / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D002479:Inclusion Bodies / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000166:cytology; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D010179:Pancreas / Q000294:innervation*; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D002395:Catecholamines