Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

On the vegetative network of guinea pig thoracic spinal cord

  • Published:
Histochemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

A dense AChE-positive network was visualized by light microscopy in the thoracic spinal cord of grown-up guinea pigs of both sexes (bodyweight 250–300 g). This network connects in a horizontal and vertical direction the preganglionic sympathetic nuclei (n. intermediolateralis pars principalis (ILp), n. intermediolateralis pars funicularis (ILf), n. intercalatus spinals (IC), n. intercalatus pars paraependymalis (ICpe), (Petras and Cummings, 1972) all along the thoracic spinal cord. In addition to AChE activity, the bundles of fibers of this network also show a strong formaldehyde-induced NA fluorescence.

Electron microscopy demonstrated granular vesicles in the cytoplasm of ILp cells. The surface of the ILp and IC neurons is almost entirely covered with synaptic buttons which have clear and granulated synaptic vesicles. The bundles of fibers consists of parallel myelin-free axones and dendrites. On their cource the axones form varicosities. In the varicosities and in the synaptic enlargements there are also clear and granulated (40–100 nm) vesicles. The probable origin of the vegetative network fibers of guinea pig thoracic spinal cord is discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bok, S.T.: Die Entwicklung von Reflexen und Reflexbahnen. II. Die Ontogenese des Rückenmarks-reflexapparates mit den zentralen Verhältnissen des Nervus sympathicus. Inaugural Dissertation. Amsterdam. Psychiat. neurol. Bl. (Amsterdam) 26, 174 (1922)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bok, S.T.: Das Rückenmark. In: Handbuch der mikroskopischen Anatomie des Menschen (W. von Möllendorf, ed.), Vol. 4, p. 478–578. Berlin: Springer 1928

    Google Scholar 

  • Burn, H.J.: The Autonomic Nervous System. Oxford and Edinburgh: Blackwell Scientific Publications 1971

    Google Scholar 

  • Chouchkov, Ch.N.: Zur Lokalisation von biogene Aminen im Rückenmark der Ratte. Eine fluorescenzhistochemische Untersuchung nach L-Dopa-Gabe. Histochemistry 41, 167–173 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Chung, J.M., Chung, K., Wurster, R.D.: Sympathetic preganglionic neurons of the cat spinal cord: horseradish peroxidase study. Brain Res. 91, 126–131 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Dahlström, A., Fuxe, K.: Evidence for the existence of monoamine-containing neurons in the central nervous system. I. Demonstration of monoamines in cell bodies of brain stem neurons. Acta physiol. scand. 62, suppl. 232, 1–55 (1964)

    Google Scholar 

  • Dahlström, A., Fuxe, K.: Evidence for the existence of monoamine-containing neurons in the central nervous system. II. Experimentally induced changes in the intraneuronal amine levels of bulbospinal neuron systems. Acta physiol. scand. 64, suppl. 247, 1–36 (1965)

    Google Scholar 

  • Eränkö, L.: Effect of pH on the activity of nervous cholinesterases of the rat towards different biochemical and histochemical substrates and inhibitors. Histochemie 33, 1–14 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Eränkö, O.: Histochemistry of nervous tissues: catecholamines and cholinesterases. Ann. Rev. Pharmacol. 7, 203–222 (1967)

    Google Scholar 

  • Eränkö, O., Eränkö, L.: Loss of histochemically demonstrable catecholamines and acetylcholinesterase from sympathetic nerve fibers of the pineal body of the rat after chemical sympathectomy with 6-hydroxydopamine. Histochem. J. 3, 357–363 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Eränkö, O., Härkönen, M.: Noradrenaline and acetylcholinesterase in sympathetic ganglion cells of the rat. Acta physiol. scand. 61, 299–300 (1964)

    Google Scholar 

  • Eränkö, O., Rechardt, L., Eränkö, L., Cunningham, A.: Light and electron microscopic histochemical observations in cholinesterase-containing sympathetic nerve fibers in the pineal body of the rat. Histochem. J. 2, 479–489 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Fuxe, K.: Evidence for the existence of monoamine neurons in the central nervous system. IV. Distribution of monoamine nerve terminals in the central nervous system. Acta physiol. scand. 64, suppl. 247, 39–85 (1965)

    Google Scholar 

  • Galabov, P.: Peculiarities of the cholinergic network in the intermediate zone of some mammalian spinal cords. C.R. Acad. Bulg. Sci. 1976 (in press)

  • Greving, R.: Die zentralen Anteile des vegetativen Nervensystems. In: Handbuch der mikroskopischen Anatomie des Menschen (W. von Möllendorf, ed.), Vol. 4, p. 917. Berlin: Springer 1928

    Google Scholar 

  • Gwyn, D.G., Waldron, H.A.: A nucleus in the dorsolateral funiculus of the spinal cord of the rat. Brain Res. 10, 342–351 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Henry, J.L., Calaresu, F.R.: Excitatory and inhibitory inputs from medullary nuclei projecting to spinal cardioacceleratory neurons in the cat. Exp. Brain Res. 20, 485–504 (1974a)

    Google Scholar 

  • Henry, J.L., Calaresu, F.R.: Pathways from medullary nuclei to spinal cardioacceleratory neurons in the cat. Exp. Brain Res. 20, 505–514 (1974b)

    Google Scholar 

  • Henry, J.L., Calaresu, F.R.: Origin and course of crossed medullary pathways to spinal sympathetic neurons in the cat. Exp. Brain Res. 20, 515–526 (1974c)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ishii, T., Friede, R.L.: A comparative histochemical mapping of the distribution of acetylcholinesterase and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide-diaphorase activities in the human brain. Intern. Rev. Neurobiol. 10, 231–275 (1967)

    Google Scholar 

  • Karnovsky, M.J., Roots, L.: A “direct coloring” thiocholine technique for cholinesterases. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 12, 219–227 (1964)

    Google Scholar 

  • Koelle, G.B.: A new general concept of the neurohumoral functions of acetylcholine and acetylcholinesterase. J. Pharm. Pharmacol. 14, 65–90 (1962)

    Google Scholar 

  • Laruelle, L.: La structure de la moelle épinière en coupes longitudinales. Rev. Neurol. 44, 695–725 (1937)

    Google Scholar 

  • Laruelle, L.: Etude d'anatomie microscopique de névraxe sur coupes longitudinales. Acta Neurol. Psychiat. Belg. 48, 138–280 (1948)

    Google Scholar 

  • McLennan, H.: Synaptic Transmission. Philadelphia-London-Toronto: W.B. Saunders Co. 1970

    Google Scholar 

  • Mitchel, G.A.G.: Anatomy of the Autonomic Nervous System. Edinburgh and London: E. & S. Livingstone Ltd. 1953

    Google Scholar 

  • Navaratnam, V., Levis, P.R.: Cholinesterase-containing neurons in the spinal cord of the rat. Brain Res. 18, 411–425 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Odutola, A.B.: The organization of cholinesterase-containing systems of the monkey spinal cord. Brain Res. 39, 353–368 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Oliver, J.E., Jr., Bradly, W.E., Fletcher, T.F.: Identification of preganglionic parasympathetic neurons in the sacral spinal cord of the cat. J. comp. Neurol. 137, 321–327 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Poljak, S.: Die Struktureigentümlichkeiten des Rückenmarks bei den Chiropteren. Zugleich ein Beitrag zu der Frage über die spinalen Zentren des Sympatheticus. Z. Anat. Entwickl.-Gesch. 74, 509–576 (1924)

    Google Scholar 

  • Rethelyi, M.: Cell and neuropil architecture of the intermediolateral (sympathetic) nucleus of cat spinal cord. Brain Res. 46, 203–213 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Robinson, P.M.: The demonstration of acetylcholinesterase in autonomic axons with the electron microscope. Progr. Brain Res. 34, 357–370) (1981)

    Google Scholar 

  • Roessmann, U., Friede, R.L.: The segmental distribution of acetyl cholinesterase in the cat spinal cord. J. Anat. (Lond.) 101, 27–32 (1967)

    Google Scholar 

  • Silver, A., Wolstencroft, J.H.: The distribution of cholinesterases in relation to the structure of the spinal cord in the cat. Brain Res. 34, 205–227 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Stilling, B.: Neue Untersuchungen über den feineren Bau des Rückenmarks. Cassel: H. Hotop 1859

    Google Scholar 

  • Waldron, H.A.: Cholinergic fibres in the spinal cord of the rat. Brain Res. 4, 113–116 (1967)

    Google Scholar 

  • Winckler, J.: Über die adrenergen Herznerven bei Ratte und Meerschweinchen. Entwicklung und Innrevationsmuster. Z. Zellforsch. 98, 106–121 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Winckler, J.: Kontrollierte Gefriertrocknung von Kryostatschnitten. Histochemie 22, 234–240 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Regeneration Research Laboratory, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria

    P. Galabov & M. Davidoff

Authors
  1. P. Galabov
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. Davidoff
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Galabov, P., Davidoff, M. On the vegetative network of guinea pig thoracic spinal cord. Histochemistry 47, 247–255 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00489966

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00489966

Keywords

Search

Navigation