Summary
A study has been made of the innervation of the inferior vena cava in white leghorn chicks. The fluorescence histochemical technique for the localisation of biogenic amines demonstrated a dense noradrenergic innervation that extended throughout the vessel wall. Numbers of fluorescent cell bodies are present, particularly along large nerve trunks. Cholinesterase staining demonstrated a similarly disposed, but sparser neuronal arrangement. Ultrastructural observations confirm the presence of numerous noradrenergic axons supplying the smooth muscle in the wall of the vessel and the scarcity of cholinergic profiles. Ganglion cells with numerous synaptic contacts occur throughout the vessel wall.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ball, R. A., Sautter, R. H., Katter, M. S.: Morphological characteristics of the anterior mesenteric artery of the fowl. Anat. Rec. 146, 251–255 (1963)
Bell, C.: Indirect cholinergic vasomotor control of intestinal blood flow in the domestic chicken. J. Physiol. (Lond.) 205, 317–327 (1969)
Bennett, T.: Studies on the avian gizzard: histochemical analysis of the extrinsic and intrinsic innervation. Z. Zellforsch. 98, 188–201 (1969)
Bennett, T.: Fluorescence histochemical and functional studies on adrenergic nerves following treatment with 6-hydroxydopamine. In: 6-hydroxydopamine and catecholamine neurons (Malmfors, T., Thoenen, H., eds), p. 303–314. Amsterdam: North Holland Publ. Co. 1971 a
Bennett, T.: The adrenergic innervation of the pulmonary vasculature, the lung and the thoracic aorta and on the presence of aortic bodies in the domestic fowl (Gallus gallus domesticus L.). Z. Zellforsch. 114, 117–134 (1971 b)
Bennett, T.: The peripheral and autonomic nervous systems. In: Avian biology (Farner, D. S., King, J. R., eds), vol. IV. New York: Academic Press 1974 (in press)
Bennett, T., Burnstock, G., Cobb, J.L.S., Malmfors, T.: An ultrastructural and histochemical study of the short-term effects of 6-hydroxydopamine on adrenergic nerves in the domestic fowl. Brit. J. Pharmacol. 38, 802–809 (1970)
Bennett, T., Cobb, J.L.S.: Studies on the avian gizzard: Auerbach's plexus. Z. Zellforsch. 99, 109–120 (1969)
Bennett, T., Malmfors, T.: The adrenergic nervous system of the domestic fowl (Gallus domesticus L.). Z. Zellforsch. 106, 22–50 (1970)
Bennett, T., Malmfors, T.: The vasomotor innervation of the inferior vena cava of the domestic fowl (Gallus gallus domesticus L.). II. Functional observations. In Preparation (1974)
Bennett, T., Malmfors, T., Cobb, J.L.S.: A fluorescence histochemical study of the degeneration and regeneration of noradrenergic nerves in the chick following treatment with 6-hydroxydopamine. Z. Zellforsch. 142, 103–130 (1973)
Cobb, J.L.S., Bennett, T.: An electron microscopic examination of the short term effects of 6-hydroxydopamine on the peripheral adrenergic nervous system. In: 6-hydroxydopamine and catecholamine neurons (Malmfors, T., Thoenen, H., eds). p. 33–46. Amsterdam: North Holland Publ. Co. 1971
Djojosugito, A. M., Folkow, B., Yonce, L. R.: Neurogenic adjustments of muscle blood flow, cutaneous A-V shunt flow and of venous tone during “diving” in ducks. Acta physiol. scand. 75, 377–386 (1969)
Folkow, B., Fuxe, K., Sonnenschein, R. R.: Responses of skeletal musculature and its vasculature during “dividing” in the duck: peculiarities of the adrenergic vasoconstrictor innervation. Acta physiol. scand. 67, 327–342 (1966)
Hughes, J., Vane, J. R.: An analysis of the responses of the isolated portal vein of the rabbit to electrical stimulation and to drugs. Brit. J. Pharmacol. 30, 46–66 (1967)
Johansson, B., Ljung, B., Malmfors, T., Olson, L.: Prejunctional supersensitivity in the rat portal vein as related to its pattern of innervation. Acta physiol. scand., Suppl. 349, 5–16 (1970)
Jones, D. R., Johansen, K.: The blood vascular system of birds. In: Avian biology (Farner, D. S., King, J. R., eds), vol. II, chap. 4, p. 158–287. New York: Academic Press 1972
Karnovsky, M. J., Roots, L.: A “direct-coloring” thiocholine method for cholinesterases. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 12, 219–221 (1964)
Leontieva, G. R.: Distribution of catecholamines in the wall of blood vessels of warmblooded animals (in Russian). Arkh. Anat. Gistol. Embriol. 50, 36–41 (1966)
Norberg, K. A., Sjöqvist, F.: New possibilities for adrenergic modulation of ganglionic transmission. Pharmacol. Rev. 18, 743–752 (1966)
Smith, A. D.: Mechanisms involved in the release of noradrenaline from sympathetic nerves. Brit. med. Bull. 29, 123–129 (1973)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Some of this work was carried out in the Department of Zoology, Melbourne University, Australia. We are grateful to Professor G. Burnstock for use of facilities, and the National Heart Foundation of Australia for financial support.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bennett, T., Cobb, J.L.S. & Malmfors, T. The vasomotor innervation of the inferior vena cava of the domestic fowl (Gallus gallus domesticus L.). Cell Tissue Res. 148, 521–533 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00221936
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00221936