Summary
The effects of 17-B-estradiol on the fine structure of the autonomic nerves of the rabbit oviduct and myometrium were studied by means of KMnO4-fixation. The main changes due to prolonged estrogen treatment were the following: (1) the dimensions of the axons increased, (2) the amount of smooth endoplasmic reticulum in the axons increased, (3) the amounts of both large granular vesicles (LGV) and large agranular vesicles (LAV) in the axons increased and (4) electron dense grains were found within the endoplasmic tubuli of the axons. Furthermore, it seems probable that the amount of small granular vesicles was also considerably higher after two weeks of estrogen treatment.
The mechanism of estrogen action on the storage of transmitter within the axon is discussed. In conclusion, the present results suggest that both the axoplasmic transport and the peripheral formation of storage sites for noradrenaline are stimulated by the increased estrogen level.
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This work was supported by grants from Orion, Helsinki and from Finska Läkaresällskapet.
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Hervonen, A., Kanerva, L. The effect of 17-B-estradiol on the fine structure of the adrenergic axons of the rabbit myometrium. Z.Zellforsch 144, 219–229 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00307303
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00307303