Cholinergic innervation of the mouse superior cervical ganglion : light -and electron-microscopic immunocytochemistry for choline acetyltransferase

The cholinergic innervation of the mouse superior cervical ganglion was investigated by means of immunocytochemistry using a well-characterized monoclonal antibody against choline acetyltransferase (ChAT). Immunopositive nerve fibers entered the superior cervical ganglion from the cervical sympathet...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Cell and tissue research 1991-07, Vol.265 (1), p.151-158
Main Authors: KASA, P, DOBO, E, WOLFF, J. R
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Antibodies, Monoclonal - immunology
Axons - enzymology
Axons - ultrastructure
Biological and medical sciences
Choline O-Acetyltransferase - immunology
Choline O-Acetyltransferase - metabolism
Female
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Ganglia, Sympathetic - enzymology
Ganglia, Sympathetic - ultrastructure
Immunohistochemistry
Male
Mice
Microscopy, Electron
Nerve Fibers - enzymology
Nerve Fibers - ultrastructure
Peripheral nervous system. Autonomic nervous system. Neuromuscular transmission. Ganglionic transmission. Electric organ
Synapses - enzymology
Synapses - ultrastructure
Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs
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Summary:The cholinergic innervation of the mouse superior cervical ganglion was investigated by means of immunocytochemistry using a well-characterized monoclonal antibody against choline acetyltransferase (ChAT). Immunopositive nerve fibers entered the superior cervical ganglion from the cervical sympathetic trunk. Light-microscopically, these fibers appeared to be heterogeneously distributed among the principal ganglion cells. The rostral part of the ganglion contained more ChAT-positive fibers then the middle or the caudal one. The axons branched several times before forming numerous varicosities. Most of the ChAT-stained fibers and varicosities aggregated in glomerula-like neuropil structures that were surrounded by principal ganglion cell bodies, whereas others were isolated or formed little bundles among principle neurons. None of the neurons or other cell types in the ganglion exhibited ChAT-positivity. ChAT-immunoreactive fibers disappeared from the ganglion 5 or 13 days after transection of the cervical sympathetic trunk. At the ultrastructural level, most axon terminals and synapses showed ChAT-immunoreactivity. An ultrastructural analysis indicated that immunostained synapses occurred directly on the surface of neuronal soma (1.8%) and dendritic shafts (17.6%). Synapses were often seen on soma spines (18.4%) and on dendritic spines (62.2%). All immunoreactive synapses were of the asymmetric type. The results provide immunocytochemical evidence for a heterogeneous cholinergic innervation of the ganglion and the principal neurons.
ISSN:0302-766X
1432-0878
DOI:10.1007/BF00318149