title: Experimental study on the location of neurons associated with the first sacral sympathetic trunk ganglion of the pig.
abstract: The neurons associated with the left first sacral sympathetic trunk ganglion (STG S1), an autonomic ganglion particularly concerned in the innervation of the smooth and striated musculature associated with pelvic organs, were identified in the pig, using the non-trans-synaptic fluorescent retrograde neuronal tracer Fast Blue. The labelled neurons were located mostly ipsilaterally, in the intermediolateral nucleus of the spinal cord segments T10-L5, in the sympathetic trunk ganglia L3-Co1, in the caudal mesenteric ganglia, in the pelvic ganglia, and in the spinal ganglia T13-S4. Our results could indicate the existence of visceral neuronal circuits concerning the ganglia of the sympathetic trunk and the caudal mesenteric, pelvic and spinal ganglia with or without the intervention of the central nervous system, whose identification and preservation during surgical treatments could be helpful in reducing the risk of subsequent urinary and sexual disfunctions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ragionieri
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Botti
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gazza
authors.forename: L Bo
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Minelli
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Panu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017776:Autonomic Pathways; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D005728:Ganglia, Sympathetic / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology*; D012445:Sacrococcygeal Region / Q000294:innervation*; D013552:Swine / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology