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Ultrastructural studies of vagal paraganglia in Syrian hamsters

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Summary

Typical vagal paraganglia of Syrian hamsters are encapsulated in connective tissue and consist of groups of epithelial cells. Ganglion cells, a few fenestrated capillaries, and bundles of unmyelinated nerve fibers are intermingled among the parenchymal cells. The parenchymal cells are of two types: chief or paraganglion and sustentacular or supporting cells. The processes of the supporting cells partly or completely surround the paraganglion cells. In addition to the nucleus, Golgi complex, mitochondria, parallel-arrayed granular endoplasmic reticulum, and lipofuscin pigment, the chief cells are characterized by the presence of numerous membrane-bound, electron opaque granules. After an injection of 3H-dopa, labelings were concentrated over the chief cells and were associated predominantly with the granules. Following glutaraldehyde-dichromate treatment the granules gave a positive reaction for unsubstituted amines. These results suggest that the chief cells contain catecholamines in the electron opaque granules.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China

    I -li Chen & R. D. Yates

  2. Department of Anatomy, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA

    I -li Chen & R. D. Yates

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  1. I -li Chen
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  2. R. D. Yates
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Additional information

Research supported by USPHS Grants NS 05665, 00690 and HE 12751. A preliminary report of this research was presented before the American Society for Cell Biology, 1969.

Sponsored by National Council on Science Development, Republic of China.

Recipient of Career Research Development Award 1 K3 GM 28064.

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Chen, I.l., Yates, R.D. Ultrastructural studies of vagal paraganglia in Syrian hamsters. Z. Zellforsch. 108, 309–323 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00336522

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00336522

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