Skip to main content
PMC home page
Journal of Anatomy logoLink to Journal of Anatomy
. 1979 Mar;128(Pt 2):259–267.

Experimental degeneration of intra-epithelia nerve fibres in cat airways.

R M Das, P K Jeffery, J G Widdicombe
PMCID: PMC1232932  PMID: 438088

Abstract

This paper describes a quantitative and ultrastructural study of the degeneration of the intra-epithelial nerves in the epithelium of the lower respiratory tract of the cat following unilateral cervical infra-nodose vagotomy and section of the superior laryngeal nerve. A significant reduction in the number of intra-epithelial axons was found on the denervated side, degeneration being more complete at the hilus than in the trachea. Cellular inclusions resembling degenerating axons were observed especially on the denervated side, and their ultrastructural morphology is described. The functions of nerves which degenerated, and of those which remained unaffected, are discussed.

Full text

PDF
259

Images in this article

261Fig. 1
on p.261
262Fig. 2
on p.262
263Fig. 3
on p.263
264Fig. 4
on p.264
265Fig. 5
on p.265

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Armstrong D. J., Luck J. C. A comparative study of irritant and type J receptors in the cat. Respir Physiol. 1974 Jul;21(1):47–60. doi: 10.1016/0034-5687(74)90006-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Blümcke S., Schmidt B. J. Die Herkunft markhaltiger Nervenfasern des Plexus peribronchialis. Respiration. 1969;26(3):196–213. doi: 10.1159/000192606. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Cottle M. K., Nash C. W. The fluorescence histochemistry of rat tissues denervated with 6-hydroxydopamine and their noradrenaline and monoamine oxidase activity levels. Histochem J. 1974 Sep;6(5):567–577. doi: 10.1007/BF01003272. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Das R. M., Jeffrey P. K., Widdicombe J. G. The epithelial innervation of the lower respiratory tract of the cat. J Anat. 1978 May;126(Pt 1):123–131. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Fallert M., Böhmer G., Dinse H. R. Patterns of bulbar respiratory neurons during and after artifical hyperventilation. Respir Physiol. 1977 Apr;29(2):143–149. doi: 10.1016/0034-5687(77)90087-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. HOLMES R., TORRANCE R. W. Afferent fibres of the stellate ganglion. Q J Exp Physiol Cogn Med Sci. 1959 Jul;44:271–281. doi: 10.1113/expphysiol.1959.sp001400. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Hirsch E. F., Kaiser G. C., Barner H. B., Nigro S. L., Hamouda F., Cooper T., Adams W. E. The innervation of the mammalian lung. 3. Regression of the intrinsic nerves and of their afferent receptors following thoracic sympathectomy, cervical vagotomy or thoracic stripping of the vagus. Arch Surg. 1968 Jan;96(1):149–155. doi: 10.1001/archsurg.1968.01330190151032. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Koller E. A. Afferent vagal impulses in anaphylactic bronchial asthma. Acta Neurobiol Exp (Wars) 1973;33(1):51–56. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Meyrick B., Reid L. Nerves in rat intra-acinar alveoli: an electron microscopic study. Respir Physiol. 1971 Mar;11(3):367–377. doi: 10.1016/0034-5687(71)90010-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Mills J. E., Sellick H., Widdicombe J. G. Activity of lung irritant receptors in pulmonary microembolism, anaphylaxis and drug-induced bronchoconstrictions. J Physiol. 1969 Aug;203(2):337–357. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1969.sp008867. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Mortola J., Sant'Ambrogio G., Clement M. G. Localization of irritant receptors in the airways of the dog. Respir Physiol. 1975 Jun;24(1):107–114. doi: 10.1016/0034-5687(75)90125-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Nigro S. L., Hirsch E. F., Rams J. J., Hamouda F., Adams W. E. The innervation of the mammalian lung. II. Regression of the intrinsic nerves and other sequelae in the reimplanted lung. Arch Surg. 1968 Jan;96(1):138–148. doi: 10.1001/archsurg.1968.01330190140031. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Nishi K., Stensaas L. J. The ultrastructure and source of nerve endings in the carotid body. Cell Tissue Res. 1974;154(3):303–319. doi: 10.1007/BF00223728. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Phipps R. J., Richardson P. S. The effects of irritation at various levels of the airway upon tracheal mucus secretion in the cat. J Physiol. 1976 Oct;261(3):563–581. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1976.sp011574. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Richardson J. B., Hogg J. C., Bouchard T., Hall D. L. Localization of antigen in experimental bronchoconstriction in guinea pigs. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1973 Sep;52(3):172–181. doi: 10.1016/0091-6749(73)90034-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. STEMPAK J. G., WARD R. T. AN IMPROVED STAINING METHOD FOR ELECTRON MICROSCOPY. J Cell Biol. 1964 Sep;22:697–701. doi: 10.1083/jcb.22.3.697. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Sampson S. R., Vidruk E. H. Properties of 'irritant' receptors in canine lung. Respir Physiol. 1975 Oct;25(1):9–22. doi: 10.1016/0034-5687(75)90047-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. WIDDICOMBE J. G. Receptors in the trachea and bronchi of the cat. J Physiol. 1954 Jan;123(1):71–104. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1954.sp005034. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. WIDDICOMBE J. G. Respiratory reflexes from the trachea and bronchi of the cat. J Physiol. 1954 Jan;123(1):55–70. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1954.sp005033. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Yardley J. H., Brown G. D. Horseradish peroxidase tracer studies in the intestine in experimental cholera. Lab Invest. 1973 Apr;28(4):482–493. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of Anatomy are provided here courtesy of Anatomical Society of Great Britain and Ireland

RESOURCES