Ultrastructural quantitative analysis of the innervation of axillary lymph nodes of the rat after antigenic stimulation

Abstract

Background: In a previous study at the LM level we have found an increase in the density of innervation of axillary lymph nodes of the rat 4 months after antigenic stimulation.Methods: To reduce the variability of the results, animals reared under sterile conditions, and stimulated by subcutaneous application of bovine albumin, were used. The control group of animals was compared with three experimental groups surviving the application of antigen for varying periods, so that the ascending phase, the peak, and the descending phase of production of antibodies were represented. The present publication presents the results of the same experiment, but with an ultrastructural analysis of axonal profiles and their spatial relationship to the cells of the lymph node.Results: The present study indicates that, at the ultrastructural level, significant changes occur also during the early phase of the immune response, 10 days after application of antigen. In the short-term response these changes take the form of an increase in the proportion of unen- Conclusions: Our results demonstrate functional plasticity of the autonomic nervous system in response to normal physiological stimuli, and interaction between the nervous and immune systems during the immune response. 0 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Morphology of human intracardiac nerves: an electron microscope study

“…However, axon varicosities with plentiful mitochondria, glycogen particles, dense lamellar and multivesicular bodies as well as small clear and large granular vesicles were the most usual within the human cardiac nerves. We suggest on the basis of generally recognised descriptions of sensory nerve fibres (Chiba & Yamauchi, 1970 ;Novotny et al 1995) that the latter varicosities should be considered as belonging to sensory nerve fibres. Therefore, it is concluded that the human intracardiac nerves presumably carry cardiac sensory innervation.…”

“…In the literature, sensory nerve terminals have mostly been described as fibres with varicosities ranging from 1n5 µm to 3 µm in diameter and containing multiple mitochondria, large granular vesicles, glycogen particles, and lamellar bodies (Chiba & Yamauchi, 1970), or as varicosities with clear axoplasm and plentiful mitochondria (Novotny et al 1995). Axon varicosities observed in the human intracardiac nerves varied in their contents.…”

Ultrastructural quantitative analysis of the innervation of axillary lymph nodes in juvenile and old rats

“…This could be interpreted as confirming that open areas lacking vesicles are of no functional significance, and simply reflect fortuitous incomplete ensheathment by Schwann cells in the course of an axon. However, a parallel study with antigenic stimulation of lymph nodes reveals short-term shifts between the populations of profiles with and without vesicles, that revert to the original percentages in the descending phase of the immune response (Novotny et al, 1995). We therefore incline to believe that the open areas without vesicles are, indeed, a functional reserve destined for quick mobilization by the acquisition of vesicles.…”