Decentralisation of neurones in the pelvic ganglion of the guinea-pig: reinnervation by adrenergic nerves.
An electron-microscopic study has been made of adrenergic and cholinergic nerve fibres and synapses in the pelvic ganglion of the guinea-pig at intervals of up to 60 days following section of the hypogastric and pelvic nerves. Transection of the hypogastric nerves led to degeneration of 80-90% of the cholinergic nerve profiles and synapses in the ganglion. The small number of adrenergic nerves and synapses did not change, but 30-60 days after section, this number increased 8-10 times. Transection of the pelvic nerves led to degeneration of about 15% of the cholinergic nerve terminals, but no change in adrenergic terminals. After transection of both hypogastric and pelvic nerves, only about 1% of cholinergic nerves survived, but after 30-60 days, the number of adrenergic nerves increased 8-10 times. It is concluded that following cholinergic nerve degeneration in the ganglion, adrenergic nerves, probably originating as collateral sprouts from postganglionic neurones and granule-containing cells, can replace them to some extent.
D000320:Adrenergic Fibers / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D000818:Animals; D002799:Cholinergic Fibers / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005725:Ganglia, Autonomic / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006168:Guinea Pigs / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006892:Hydroxydopamines / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009410:Nerve Degeneration; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D009474:Neurons / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000378:metabolism; D010388:Pelvis / Q000294:innervation*; D013569:Synapses / Q000648:ultrastructure
D006892:Hydroxydopamines; C027802:5-hydroxydopamine; D009638:Norepinephrine