Summary
The carotid bifurcation areas of 25 human fetuses aged from 8 to 22 weeks were studied using the formaldehyde-induced fluorescence method. A long process from the sympathetic trunk reached the area at the age of 8 weeks contacting with the carotid body primordium. Brightly fluorescent cells can be seen both in the carotid body and in the ganglionic process. Migration of these cells from the sympathetic trunk to the carotid body is suggested. The connection from the sympathetic trunk to the carotid body totally disappeared after the tenth week, leaving no fluorescent elements between these two. Control electron microscopy and light microscopy were performed to identify the fluorescent and nonfluorescent components of the human fetal carotid body.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Adams, W. E.: Development of the adrenals and the sympathetic paraganglia in certain Madagascar Insectiores. J. Embryol. exp. Morph. 6, 575–588 (1958)
Biscoe, T. J.: Carotid body: Structure and function. Physiol. Rev. 51, 437–495 (1971)
Body, J. D.: The development of the human carotid body. Contr. Embryol. Carneg. Inst. 26, 1–31 (1937)
Celestino da Costa, A.: Paraganglions et sympathique. Ann. Endocr. (Paris) 1, 337–357, 449–464 (1940)
Chiocchio, S. R., King, M. P., Carballo, L., Angelakos, E. T.: Monoamines in the carotid body cells of the cat. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 19, 621–626 (1971)
De Castro, F.: Sur la structure et l'innervation de la glande intercarotidienne (glomus caroticum) de l'homme et des mammiferes, et sur un nouveau system d'innervation autonome du nerf glossopharyngien. Etudes anatomiques et experimentales. Trab. Lab. Invest. biol. Univ. Madr. 24, 365–432 (1926)
De Castro, F.: Sur la structure et l'innervation du sinus carotidien de l'homme et des mammiferes. Nouveaux faits sur l'innervation et la fonction du glomus caroticum. Etudes anatomiques et physiologiques. Trab. Lab. Invest. biol. Univ. Madr. 25, 331–380 (1928)
De Kock, L. L.: Intraglomerular tissues of the carotid body. Acta anat. (Basel) 21, 101–116 (1954)
Eränkö, L.: Histochemical and electron microscopical observations on catecholamines in developing sympathetic ganglion. Acta Inst. Anat. Univ. (Helsinki), Suppl. 5 (1972)
Eränkö, L., Eränkö, O.: Effect of hydrocortisone on histochemically demonstrable catecholamines in the sympathetic ganglia and extra-adrenal chromaffin tissue of the rat. Acta physiol. scand. 84, 125–133 (1972)
Eränkö, O.: The practical histochemical demonstration of catecholamines by formaldehyde-induced fluorescence. J. roy. micr. Soc. 87, 259–276 (1967)
Eränkö, O., Eränkö, L., Hill, C. E., Bnrnstock, G.: Hydrocortisone-induced increase in the number of small intensely fluorescent cells and their histochemically demonstrable catecholamine content in cultures of sympathetic ganglia of the newborn rat. Histochem. J. 4, 49–58 (1972a)
Eränkö, O., Härkönen, M.: Histochemical demonstration of fluorogenic amines in the cytoplasm of sympathetic ganglion cells of the rat. Acta physiol. scand. 58, 285–286 (1963)
Eränkö, O., Härkönen, M.: Effect of axon division on the distribution of noradrenaline and acetylcholinesterase in sympathetic neurons of the rat. Acta physiol. scand. 63, 411–412 (1965)
Eränkö, O., Heath, J., Eränkö, L.: Effect of hydrocortisone on the ultrastructure of the small, intensely fluorescent, granule-containing cells in cultures of sympathetic ganglia of newborn rats. Z. Zellforsch. 134, 297–310 (1972)
Eränkö, O., Heath, J., Eränkö, L.: Effect of hydrocortisone on the ultrastructure of the small, granule-containing cells in the superior servical ganglion of the newborn rats. Experientia (Basel) (1973), in press
Gosses, J.: The glomus caroticum. Acta neerl. morph. 1, 38–42 (1937)
Hamberger, B., Ritzen, M., Wersäll, J.: Demonstration of catecholamines and 5-hydroxy-tryptamine in the human carotid body. J. Pharmacol. exp. Ther. 152, 197–201 (1966)
Hervonen, A.: Development of catecholamine storing cells in human fetal paraganglia and adrenal medulla. Acta physiol. scand., Suppl. 368 (1971)
Hervonen, A., Kanerva, L., Korkala, O., Partanen, S.: Effects of hypoxia and glucocorticoids on the histochemically demonstrable catecholamines of the newborn rat carotid body. Acta physiol. scand. 86, 109–114 (1972b)
Hervonen, A., Kanerva, L., Lietzen, R., Partanen, S.: Effects of steroid hormones on the differentiation of the catecholamine-storing cells of the paracervical ganglion of the rat uterus. Z. Zellforsch. 134, 519–527 (1972)
Hervonen, A., Korkala, O.: The histochemically demonstrable monoamines of human fetal carotid body. Experientia (Basel) 28, 449–450 (1972a)
Hervonen, A., Korkala, O.: Fine structure of the carotid body of the midterm human fetus. Z. Anat. Entwickl.-Gesch. 138, 135–144 (1972b)
Hollinshead, W. H.: A cytological study of the carotid body of the cat. Amer. J. Anat. 73, 185–213 (1943)
Kahn, R. H.: Die Blutdruckregler. Z. ges. exp. Med. 68, 201–215 (1929)
Kanerva, L.: Development, histochemistry and connections of the paracervical ganglion of the rat uterus. Acta inst. Anat. Univ. (Helsinki), Suppl. 2 (1972)
Kohn, A.: Ueber den Bau und die Entwicklung der sog. Carotisdrüse. Arch. mikr. Anat. 56, 81–148 (1900)
Korkala, O., Partanen, S.: On the origin and nature of the cellular and neuronal compartments of the human fetal carotid body. Scand. J. clin. Lab. Invest. 29, Suppl. 122, 71 (1972)
Lempinen, M.: Extra-adrenal chromaffin tissue of the rat and the effect of cortical hormones on it. Acta physiol. scand. 62, Suppl. 231 (1964)
Mönckeberg, I. G.: Die Tumoren der Glandula Carotica. Beitr. path. Anat. 38, 1–66 (1905)
Niemi, M., Ojala, K.: Cytochemical demonstration of catecholamines in the human carotid body. Nature (Lond.) 203, 539–540 (1964)
Olson, L., Ungerstedt, U.: A simple high capacity freeze-drier for histochemical use. Histochemie 22, 8–19, (1970)
Palkama, A.: Histochemistry and electron microscopy of the carotid body. Ann. Med. exp. Fenn. 43, 260–266 (1965)
Pearse, A. G. E., Polak, J. M., Rost, F. W. D., Fontaine, Y., Le Lievre, C., Le Dourain, N.: Demonstration of the neural crest origin of type I (APUD) cells in the avian carotid body, using a cytochemical marker system. Histochemie 34, 191–203 (1973)
Ploem, J. S.: The microscopic differentation of the colour of formaldehyde-induced fluorescence. Progr. Brain Res. 34, 27–38 (1971)
Rogers, D. C.: The development of the rat carotid body. J. Anat. (Lond.) 99, 89–101 (1965)
Zapata, P., Hess, A., Bliss, E. L., Euzaguirre, C.: Chemical, electron microscopic and physiological observations on the role of catecholamines in the carotid body. Brain Res. 14, 473–496 (1969)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Korkala, O., Hervonen, A. Origin and development of the catecholamine-storing cells of the human fetal carotid body. Histochemie 37, 287–297 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00274965
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00274965