Abstract
Using fresh biopsy specimens, intramural ganglia of the human urinary bladder have been examined by electron microscopy. The fine structural features of these neurons were compatible with their classification as parasympathetic in type. In several ganglia, groups of neurons were observed lying in close apposition to one another without any intervening satellite cell cytoplasm. Apart from occasional septate junctions the apposing membranes lacked any specialisation. The majority of terminals occurring in association with these intramural neurons were axosomatic in location. The terminals contained numerous small agranular and occasional large granulated vesicles and structurally were presumptive cholinergic in type. Occasional axon varicosities packed with a heterogeneous population of small agranular vesicles, large vesicles of variable density and multivesicular bodies lay in close association with the ganglion cells. The functional significance of these morphological features in terms of ganglionic transmission has been considered.
Full text
PDF
Images in this article
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Alm P. Cholinergic innervation of the human urethra and urinary bladder: a histochemical study and review of methodology. Acta Pharmacol Toxicol (Copenh) 1978;43 (Suppl 2):56–62. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0773.1978.tb03220.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Cook R. D., Burnstock G. The altrastructure of Auerbach's plexus in the guinea-pig. I. Neuronal elements. J Neurocytol. 1976 Apr;5(2):171–194. doi: 10.1007/BF01181655. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Dixon J. S., Gilpin S. A., Gilpin C. J., Gosling J. A. Intramural ganglia of the human urinary bladder. Br J Urol. 1983 Apr;55(2):195–198. doi: 10.1111/j.1464-410x.1983.tb06554.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Ek A., Alm P., Andersson K. E., Persson C. G. Adrenergic and Cholinergic Nerves of the Human Urethra and Urinary Bladder. A histochemical study. Acta Physiol Scand. 1977 Mar;99(3):345–352. doi: 10.1111/j.1748-1716.1977.tb10387.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Ellison J. P., Hibbs R. G. An ultrastructural study of mammalian cardiac ganglia. J Mol Cell Cardiol. 1976 Feb;8(2):89–101. doi: 10.1016/0022-2828(76)90023-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Fehér E., Csányi K., Vajda J. Ultrastructure of the nerve cells and fibres in the urinary bladder wall of the cat. Acta Anat (Basel) 1979;103(1):109–118. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Gabella G. Fine structure of the myenteric plexus in the guinea-pig ileum. J Anat. 1972 Jan;111(Pt 1):69–97. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Gilula N. B., Branton D., Satir P. The septate junction: a structural basis for intercellular coupling. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1970 Sep;67(1):213–220. doi: 10.1073/pnas.67.1.213. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Gobel S. Axo-axonic septate junctions in the basket formations of the cat cerebellar cortex. J Cell Biol. 1971 Oct;51(1):328–333. doi: 10.1083/jcb.51.1.328. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Gosling J. A., Thompson S. A. A neurohistochemical and histological study of peripheral autonomic neurons of the human bladder neck and prostate. Urol Int. 1977;32(4):269–276. doi: 10.1159/000280142. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Klück P. The autonomic innervation of the human urinary bladder, bladder neck and urethra: a histochemical study. Anat Rec. 1980 Nov;198(3):439–447. doi: 10.1002/ar.1091980306. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- RICHARDSON K. C. THE FINE STRUCTURE OF THE ALBINO RABBIT IRIS WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE IDENTIFICATION OF ADRENERGIC AND CHOLINERGIC NERVES AND NERVE ENDINGS IN ITS INTRINSIC MUSCLES. Am J Anat. 1964 Mar;114:173–205. doi: 10.1002/aja.1001140202. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Schulman C. C., Duarte-Escalante O., Boyarsky S. The ureterovesical innervation. A new concept based on a histochemical study. Br J Urol. 1972 Dec;44(6):698–712. doi: 10.1111/j.1464-410x.1972.tb10144.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Sotelo C., Llinás R. Specialized membrane junctions between neurons in the vertebrate cerebellar cortex. J Cell Biol. 1972 May;53(2):271–289. doi: 10.1083/jcb.53.2.271. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]