Acetylcholinesterase containing nerve fibres in coronary circulation

The cholinergic innervation of coronary arteries and veins has been studied in the human. Structures resembling cholinergic nerve fibres are localised at the level of the extraparenchymal branches of the coronary arteries, organised in the adventitial plexus. Neither the coronary veins nor the intraparenchymal blood vessels are provided with a cholinergic innervation. Those findings are discussed.

Cholinergic nerves in the mesentery

The cholinergic innervation of extravascular portions of rat mesentery was studied in normal as well as 6-hydroxydopamine (7 OHDA) sympathectomized animals. We observed the presence of a cholinergic innervation unaltered by 6 OHDA treatment in extra-vascular portions of mesentery. Cholinergic nerve fibers coming from paravascular nerves forms loop]-like structures that innervate the mesentery proper. Also the islands of adipocytes of mesentery seem to be provided with a cholinergic innervation. The findings are discussed.

Acetylcholinesterase-containing nerve fibers in the dura mater of guinea pig, mouse, and rat

The cholinergic innervation of the dura mater in the guinea pig, mouse and rat has been investigated. The dura mater is provided with a cholinergic innervation. After short incubation times (4--6 hours) we found acetylcholinesterase (AChE)-containing nerve fibers in close relationship with the main meningeal blood vessels. After longer incubation times, AChE-containing nerve fibers appear also in the meningeal tissue proper. Chemical sympathectomy, performed with the neurotoxin 6-hydroxy-dopamine, does not seem to interfere with the pattern of the dural cholinergic innervation. The findings are discussed.

Beta adrenergic receptors in the parathyroid glands

The location of beta-adrenoceptors in human parathyroid gland was studied using an immunohistochemical method. Frozen sections of human parathyroid glands, taken from surgical samples, were treated with (-)-alprenolol, washed and exposed to (-)-alprenolol antibodies conjugated with fluorescent dyes. The (-)-alprenolol was bound to the parathyroid principal cells and to the main blood vessels. On the contrary, adrenergic nerve fibres, demonstrated with formaldehyde fluorescence technique, were only located within the walls of main blood vessels. The findings are discussed.

[Anterior communicating artery: morphologic and structural aspects]

The gross anatomy of the anterior communicating artery has been studied in 40 adult brains removed at autopsy. We have observed 6 different anatomicals variant of the artery. A histological study shows that the wall of the artery is constituted with three layers: intima, media and adventitia. Moreover the structure of the arterial wall is different in some anatomicals variant. The findings are discussed.

Cholinergic nerves in dog cerebral vessels

The presence of a cholinergic innervation of the main cerebral blood vessels has been studied in the dog. Cholinergic nerve fibers are found in all examined arteries and veins, organized in two or in a single nerve plexus. The cerebral veins appear to be less innervated than arteries. The meaning of a cholinergic innervation in the cerebral circulation is discussed.

The cholinergic innervation of the aorta

The cholinergic innervation of the aorta has been studied in some mammalian species. Cholinergic nerve fibers (CNF) are organized in the aorta of the rabbit, kid, lamb, and guinea pig in 2 plexuses. The plexuses of CNF consist of a superficial plexus localized in the adventitial layer and a deep one localized in the adventitial-medial transitional zone. Some CNF reach the outer layers of the media. In the aorta of the dog, mouse and rat CNF are organized in a single plexus localized in the adventitial layer. This nerve plexus is formed of CNF that for the most part are distributed to the vasa vasorum. The chemical sympathectomy don't alters the pattern of the cholinergic innervation of the aorta, indicating that stained CNF are parasympathetic in nature. The meaning of a cholinergic innervation of the aortic wall is discussed.

Histochemical studies on the autonomic innervation of the femoral artery and vein

The innervation of the femoral artery and vein in the dog was studied using: a) glyoxylic acid fluorescence (for the histochemical localization of adrenergic nerve fibers); b) acetylcholinesterase (for the histochemical localization of cholinergic nerve fibers). -Andrenergic nerve fibers and related terminals in both vessels are confined to the adventitial-medial transitional zone and the outer layers of the media. Acetylcholinesterase containing nerve fibers are localized in the adventitial-medial transitional zone of the femoral artery. These findings may indicate the presence of a cholinergic vasodilatator system in the control of the circulation in the femoral artery.

Myosin-like protein in the human parathyroid glands: an immunohistochemical study

The immunofluorescent staining of the human parathyroid glands shows that the principal cells bind antimyosin-like antibodies. The presence of a myosin-like protein in the principal cells of the human parathyroid glands is presumably in rapport with parathormone secretion.

Cholinergic nerves in blood vessels of the female reproductive system

Cholinergic innervation of the blood vessels of the female reproductive system was investigated in human by the cholinesterase method. The following results were obtained: 1. The uterine and vaginal arteries are provided with a rich cholinergic innervation. 2. The ovarian, tubaric and ovarian-uterine artery are poorly innervated. 3. The ovarian and uterine vein are not provided with a cholinergic innervation.

Cholinergic nerves in the thyroid gland

The cholinergic innervation of the thyroid gland has been studied in the human. AChE positive nerve fibers are localized in the wall of the thyroid artery, arranged in two plexuses, a superficial (adventitial) and a deep one (medial). The glandular tissue is provided with cholinergic nerve fibers, localized between and around thyroid follicles. The present results suggest that the endocrine activity of the thyroid gland is also under the control of the autonomic nervous system.

[Adrenergic receptors in coronary arteries (author's transl)]

The relations between adrenergic nerve fibers and related receptors in the wall of the coronary arteries have been studied in man. On sections of these vessels morphological observations (H.E.) were carried out: histochemical staining of adrenergic mediators (Eranko reaction for norepinephrine, and Hillarp reaction for cathecolamines), and of beta-receptors by means of a beta-blocking fluorescent drug (pindolol-Visken LB 46). Our observations provide evidence of the presence of beta-receptors in the wall of the coronary arteries, but they are particularly concentrated in the periadventitial connective tissue, in the adventitia and in the intima-media transitional zone. Beta-adrenergic receptors are above all present in the most richly innervated part of the vascular wall, and are therefore in close rapport with adrenergic nerve fibers.