Reinnervation of primate ciliary muscle following ciliary ganglionectomy.
Ciliary ganglionectomy and/or postganglionic ciliary neurectomy in the cynomolgus monkey was followed by supersensitivity to intramuscular (i.m.) pilocarpine and lack of response to topical eserine and to electrical stimulation of the Edinger-Westphal nucleus. Normal responsiveness to pilocarpine and eserine returned in most instances after about 6 months. An accommodative response to stimulus of the Edinger-Westphal nucleus was also present and, as in control eyes, could be blocked by hexamethonium. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that parasympathetic innervation to the ciliary muscle mediating accommodation traverses a typical peripheral autonomic synapse, almost certainly located predominantly in the ciliary ganglion; by 6 months after denervation, the ciliary muscles have reinnervated; and the parasympathetic pathway to the eye exhibits plasticity and capacity for regeneration.
D000065:Accommodation, Ocular / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D002924:Ciliary Body / Q000294:innervation*; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005260:Female; D005724:Ganglia / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology*; D008252:Macaca fascicularis; D008297:Male; D009132:Muscles / Q000294:innervation*; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D010862:Pilocarpine / Q000494:pharmacology; D012029:Refraction, Ocular; D012146:Rest; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical; D013562:Sympathectomy
D010862:Pilocarpine