Ultrastructure of the myelinated nerve fibers in the feline laryngeal mucosa.
We studied the myelinated sensory nerve fibers in the feline laryngeal mucosa. Myelinated afferent nerve fibers (A-delta type) present in the lamina propria showed deterioration of the myelin sheath and Schwann cells under the basement membrane. Axons penetrated the basement membrane and entered the intercellular space of the epithelium. Nerve endings with many mitochondria and small clear vesicles existed in the intercellular space. No synapse-like structure was found between the endings and the surrounding epithelial cells. It is likely that these endings act as mechanosensitive receptors that respond to water or chemical stimuli and that participate in eliciting swallowing, coughing, and bronchoconstriction.
Tsuda
K
K
Department of Otolaryngology, Saga Medical School Nabeshima, Japan.
Maeyama
T
T
Shin
T
T
D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002415:Cats; D007820:Laryngeal Mucosa / Q000294:innervation*; D009413:Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*