An ultrastructural study of sympathetic ganglion satellite cells in the rat 2. Effect of preganglionic sympathectomy

Abstract

The ultrastructure of satellite cells of the rat superior cervical ganglion was studied following preganglionic sympathectomy.Several distinct morphological alterations were observed: (a) enlargement of the intercellular space between the ganglion cells and the satellite cells, (b) dilation of the granular endoplasmic reticulum and loss of attached ribosomes, and (c) swelling of the mitochondria with disorganization of the cristae mitochondriales. The presence of degenerating nerve fibers and synaptic boutons was also noted.

Morphologic Study of the Blood Vessels of the Superior Cervical Ganglion of the Albino Rat

“…The neurons constituting these ganglia have been described from both light-and electron-microscopic observations [Kuntz, 1953;Barton and Causey, 1958;Pick et al, 1964;Chang, 1976], The major arterial trunks supplying certain autonomic ganglia have been examined [Szabo and Bolonyi, 1955;Eliskova, 1973;Sears et al, 1974] as well as the intraganglionic dis tribution of vessels | Gabella, 1972;Melman, 1973;Menlel, 1976] while the inter face between capillaries and neurons has been largely ignored. This information would be valuable for the following reasons: (1) In many cases of Horner's syndrome, the underlying causes are obscure and may pos sibly be related to vascular problems [Se«rs et al, 1974;Thompson, 1974], (2) Several substances such as alcohol [Rossi et al, 1976] and guanethidine [Holm and Jaul, 1976] have been implicated as a cause of autonomic neuropathies, both experimen tally and clinically.…”