Ultrastructural identification of a sympathetic component in the hypoglossal nerve of hamsters using experimental degeneration and horseradish peroxidase methods.
We employed experimental degeneration, tract-tracing with wheatgerm agglutinin conjugated with horseradish peroxidase (WGA-HRP) and electron microscopy to explore the postganglionic sympathetic fibers in the hypoglossal nerve of hamsters. Quantitative results of normal untreated animals at the electron microscopic level showed the existence of unmyelinated fibers, which made up about 20% of the total fibers in the nerve, being more numerous on the left side. The nerve fibers were preferentially distributed at the periphery of the nerve. Following superior cervical ganglionectomy, most of the unmyelinated fibers underwent degenerative changes. Tract-tracing studies showed that some of the unmyelinated fibers were labeled by WGA-HRP injected into the superior cervical ganglion (SCG). It is suggested that the unmyelinated fibers represent the postganglionic sympathetic fibers originated from the SCG.
Tseng
Chi-Yu
CY
Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
Wei
I-Hua
IH
Chang
Hung-Ming
HM
Lue
June-Horng
JH
Wen
Chen-Yuan
CY
Shieh
Jeng-Yung
JY
D000818:Animals; D006224:Cricetinae; D015171:Ganglionectomy; D006735:Horseradish Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism*; D007002:Hypoglossal Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008571:Men; D009413:Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / Q000648:ultrastructure; D036421:Nerve Fibers, Unmyelinated / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D014909:Wheat Germ Agglutinins / Q000378:metabolism; D014930:Women
D014909:Wheat Germ Agglutinins; D006735:Horseradish Peroxidase