Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Morphometric studies of dense-cored vesicles in Type I cells of rat carotid body

  • Published:
Journal of Neurocytology

Summary

Two subclasses of Type I cells of rat carotid body were recognized by analyzing the diameters of dense-cored vesicles. One group of cells contained vesicles with a mean diameter of about 52 nm; in the other group of cells the vesicles measured about 71 nm. The mean volume of the small vesicle cell (SVC) was roughly 3/4 that of the large vesicle cell (LVC). Furthermore there were significant differences between SVC and LVC in volume densities of vesicles (0.4 versus 0.9%), mitochondria (14 versus 17%) and nuclei (49 versus 38%).

The fingerlike extensions typical of the Type I cells were more common for LVC than for SVC. The majority of the nerve-endings observed terminated on LVC.

The significance of these differences has yet to be determined.

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

  • Bach, G. (1967) Size distribution of particles derived from the size distribution of their sections. InStereology (edited byElias, H.), pp. 174–186. Berlin: Springer Verlag.

    Google Scholar 

  • Biscoe, T. J. (1971) Carotid Body: structure and function.Physiological Reviews 51, 437–95.

    Google Scholar 

  • Biscoe, T. J. andStehbens, W. E. (1966) Ultrastructure of the carotid body.Journal of Cell Biology 30, 563–78.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bloom, F. E. andAghajanian, G. K. (1968) An electron microscopic analysis of large granular vesicles of the brain in relation to monoamme content.Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics 159, 261–73.

    Google Scholar 

  • Engelman, L. andHartigan, J. A. (1969) Percentage points of a test for clusters.Journal of the American Statistical Association 64, 1647–8.

    Google Scholar 

  • Froesch, D. (1973) A simple method to estimate the true diameter of synaptic vesicles.Journal of Microscopy 98, 85–9.

    Google Scholar 

  • Geffen, L. B. andOstberg, A. (1969) Distribution of granular vesicles in normal and constricted sympathetic neurones.Journal of Physiology (London) 204, 583–92.

    Google Scholar 

  • Geffen, L. B. andLivett, B. G. (1971) Synaptic vesicles in sympathetic neurons.Physiological Reviews 51, 98–157.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hennig, A. andElias, H. (1971) A rapid method for the visual determination of size distribution of spheres from the size distribution of their sections.Journal of Microscopy 93, 101–7.

    Google Scholar 

  • Höglund, R. (1967) An ultrastructural study of the carotid body of horse and dog.Zeitschrift für Zellforschung und mikroskopische Anatomie 76, 568–76.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hökfelt, T. (1968)In vitro studies on central and peripheral monoamine neurons at the ultra-structural level.Zeitschrift für Zellforschung und mikroskopische Anatomie 91, 1–74.

    Google Scholar 

  • Knocle, H., Kienecker, E.-W. andSchmitt, G. (1971) Elektronenmikroskopischer Beitrag zur Kenntnis des Glomus Caroticum (Katze).Zeitschrift für Zellforschung und mikroskopische Anatomie 112, 494–515.

    Google Scholar 

  • Konwinski, M. andKozlowski, T. (1972) Morphometric study of normal and phytohemag-glutinin — stimulated lymphocytes.Zeitschrift für Zellforschung und mikroskopische Anatomie 129, 500–7.

    Google Scholar 

  • Korkala, O., Eränkö, O., Partanen, S., Eränkö, L. andHervonen, A. (1973) Histochemically demonstrable increase in the catecholamine content of the carotid body in adult rats treated with methylprednisolon or hydrocortisone.Histochemical Journal 5, 479–85.

    Google Scholar 

  • Korkala, O. andHervonen, A. (1973) Origin and development of the catecholamine-storing cells of the human fetal carotid body.Histochemie 37, 287–97.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kracht, J. (1957) Karyometrische Differenzierung der Bildungsstätten von STH und LTH in der Rattenhypophyse.Die Naturwissenshaften 44, 15.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lever, J. D. andBoyd, J. D. (1957) Osmiophile granules in the glomus cells of the rabbit carotid body.Nature 179, 1082–3.

    Google Scholar 

  • Matthiessen, D., Möllmann, H. andKnoche, H. (1973) Das unterschiedliche Bild organspezifischer Strukturen im Glomus Caroticum und Nebennierenmark.Zeitschrift für Zellforschung und mikroskopische Anatomie 138, 133–54.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morita, E., Chiocchio, S. R. andTramezzani, J. H. (1969) Four types of main cells in the carotid body of thecat.Journal of Ultrastructure Research 28, 399–410.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sjöström, M., Thornell, L.-E. andHellström, S. (1973) An efficient standardized method of staining thin sections for electron microscopy.Journal of Ultrastructure Research 42, 180–5.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, A. D. (1972) Subcellular localization of noradrenaline in sympathetic neurons.Pharmacological Reviews 24, 435–57.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tramezzani, J. H., Morita, E. andChiocchio, S. R. (1971) The carotid body as a neuroendocrine organ involved in control of erythropoiesis.Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (USA) 68, 52–5.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tranzer, J. P., Thoenen, H., Snipes, R. L. andRichards, J. G. (1969) Recent developments on the ultrastructural aspects of adrenergic nerve endings in various experimental conditions.Progress in Brain Research 31, 33–46.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weibel, E. R. (1969) Stereological principles for morphometry in electron microscopic cytology.International Review of Cytology 26, 235–302.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy, University of Umeå, S-901 87, Umeå, Sweden

    Sten Hellström

Authors
  1. Sten Hellström
    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

Hellström, S. Morphometric studies of dense-cored vesicles in Type I cells of rat carotid body. J Neurocytol 4, 77–86 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01099097

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01099097

Keywords

Search

Navigation