An electron microscopic study on enkephalin-like immunoreactive nerve fibers in the celiac ganglion of guinea pigs.
Enkephalin-like immunoreactive nerve fibers in the celiac ganglion of guinea pigs were characterized by a high population of large granular vesicles mixed with small clear vesicles. The immunoreactive material is confined to the large granular vesicles. The immunoreactive nerve fibers formed many axo-dendritic as well as axo-somatic synapses and also formed a few synapses with presumed preganglionic axons containing numerous vesicles. The immunoreactive fibers were regarded as presynaptic at these synapses. These findings suggest that enkephalin might play a role as a neurotransmitter or neuromodulator in the ganglionic transmission of this prevertebral ganglion.
D000818:Animals; D003712:Dendrites / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004745:Enkephalins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005728:Ganglia, Sympathetic / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D009474:Neurons / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013569:Synapses / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009435:Synaptic Transmission
D004745:Enkephalins