Innervation of the lacrimal gland in the cynomolgous monkey: a retrograde tracing study.
Retrograde transport of wheat germ agglutinin-horseradish peroxidase (WGA-HRP) was used to study the localisation of neurons that innervate the lacrimal gland of the cynomolgous monkey. WGA-HRP-labelled neurons were localised in the ipsilateral trigeminal, superior cervical and ciliary ganglia and in the ipsilateral and contralateral pterygopalatine ganglia. In the trigeminal ganglion WGA-HRP-labelled somata were found in the ophthalmic part (18%) and the maxillary part (5%). Identification of labelled neurons in the ciliary and pterygopalatine ganglia indicates a dual parasympathetic innvervation of the lacrimal gland. There is no known pathway to account for the contralateral location or pterygopalatine neurons. These novel findings are incorporated in a concept of a neural control mechanism for the lacrimal gland.
van der Werf
F
F
Department of Morphology, The Netherlands Ophthalmic Research Institute, Graduate School of Neurosciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Baljet
B
B
Prins
M
M
Otto
J A
JA
D000818:Animals; D003391:Cranial Nerves / Q000166:cytology; D005260:Female; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006735:Horseradish Peroxidase; D007765:Lacrimal Apparatus / Q000294:innervation*; D008252:Macaca fascicularis / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology*; D017783:Superior Cervical Ganglion / Q000166:cytology*; D012668:Trigeminal Ganglion / Q000166:cytology*; D014909:Wheat Germ Agglutinins
D014909:Wheat Germ Agglutinins; D006735:Horseradish Peroxidase