Skip to main content
PMC home page
The Journal of Physiology logoLink to The Journal of Physiology
. 1981;319:555–567. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1981.sp013926

Selective synapse formation during sprouting after partial denervation of the guinea-pig superior cervical ganglion.

J Maehlen, A Njå
PMCID: PMC1243856  PMID: 7320928

Abstract

1. The synaptic connexions established by sprouting of intact preganglionic sympathetic axons were examined by intracellular recording in vitro and by observing the sympathetic end organ responses to ventral root stimulation in vivo. 2. The superior cervical ganglion of the guinea-pig was partially denervated (70-85%) by crushing the cervical sympathetic trunk at the level of the subclavian artery, leaving the ansa subclavia intact. The intact nerve carried some preganglionic axons arising from each of the eight spinal cord segments (C8-T7) contributing innervation to the ganglion. 3. During the first 4 weeks after the operation, there was a two-to threefold increase in the number of steps in the synaptic response elicited in individual ganglion cells by graded stimulation of the ansa subclavia. There was also an increase in the amplitude of the synaptic potential elicited by each preganglionic axon. 4. This increase in the synaptic contribution of the intact nerve to neurones in the superior cervical ganglion after partial denervation was attributed to sprouting of residual preganglionic axons. A major contribution from collateral connexions between ganglion cells was ruled out by intracellular recording form neurones during antidromic stimulation of their axons in the inferior post-ganglionic nerve. 5. After sprouting, the specificity of the sympathetic end organ responses elicited by stimulation of the ventral roots of spinal segments T1 and T4 in vivo was indistinguishable from normal, although the strength of these responses increased from just perceptible acutely after partial denervation to near normal 3-6 weeks after the operation, when sprouting was largely complete. 6. These results show that intact preganglionic axons arising from different spinal levels established selective connexions with different classes of ganglion cells during sprouting.

Full text

PDF
557

Selected References

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

  1. GUTH L., BAILEY C. J. Pupillary function after alteration of the preganglionic sympathetic innervation. Exp Neurol. 1961 Apr;3:325–332. doi: 10.1016/0014-4886(61)90008-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. GUTH L., BERNSTEIN J. J. Selectivity in the re-establishment of synapses in the superior cervical sympathetic ganglion of the cat. Exp Neurol. 1961 Jul;4:59–69. doi: 10.1016/0014-4886(61)90078-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Holländer H., Vaaland J. L. A reliable staining method for semi-thin sections in experimental neurfanatomy. Brain Res. 1968 Aug 26;10(2):120–126. doi: 10.1016/0006-8993(68)90117-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Langley J. N. Note on Regeneration of Prae-Ganglionic Fibres of the Sympathetic. J Physiol. 1895 Jul 18;18(3):280–284. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1895.sp000566. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Langley J. N. On axon-reflexes in the pre-ganglionic fibres of the sympathetic system. J Physiol. 1900 Aug 29;25(5):364–398. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1900.sp000803. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Langley J. N. On the Regeneration of Pre-Ganglionic and of Post-Ganglionic Visceral Nerve Fibres. J Physiol. 1897 Nov 20;22(3):215–230. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1897.sp000688. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Lichtman J. W., Purves D., Yip J. W. Innervation of sympathetic neurones in the guinea-pig thoracic chain. J Physiol. 1980 Jan;298:285–299. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1980.sp013081. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Lichtman J. W., Purves D., Yip J. W. On the purpose of selective innervation of guinea-pig superior cervical ganglion cells. J Physiol. 1979 Jul;292:69–84. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1979.sp012839. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. MURRAY J. G., THOMPSON J. W. The occurrence and function of collateral sprouting in the sympathetic nervous system of the cat. J Physiol. 1957 Jan 23;135(1):133–162. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1957.sp005700. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Nja A., Purves D. Re-innervation of guinea-pig superior cervical ganglion cells by preganglionic fibres arising from different levels of the spinal cord. J Physiol. 1977 Nov;272(3):633–651. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1977.sp012064. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Njå A., Purves D. Specific innervation of guinea-pig superior cervical ganglion cells by preganglionic fibres arising from different levels of the spinal cord. J Physiol. 1977 Jan;264(2):565–583. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1977.sp011683. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Njå A., Purves D. Specificity of initial synaptic contacts made on guinea-pig superior cervical ganglion cells during regeneration of the cervical sympathetic trunk. J Physiol. 1978 Aug;281:45–62. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1978.sp012408. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Perri V., Sacchi O., Casella C. Synaptically mediated potentials elicited by the stimulation of post-ganglionic trunks in the guinea-pig superior cervical ganglion. Pflugers Arch. 1970;314(1):55–67. doi: 10.1007/BF00587046. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Purves D. Functional and structural changes in mammalian sympathetic neurones following colchicine application to post-ganglionic nerves. J Physiol. 1976 Jul;259(1):159–175. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1976.sp011459. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Purves D. Functional and structural changes in mammalian sympathetic neurones following interruption of their axons. J Physiol. 1975 Nov;252(2):429–463. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1975.sp011151. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Purves D., Lichtman J. W. Formation and maintenance of synaptic connections in autonomic ganglia. Physiol Rev. 1978 Oct;58(4):821–862. doi: 10.1152/physrev.1978.58.4.821. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Purves D., Thompson W. The effects of post-ganglionic axotomy on selective synaptic connexions in the superior cervical ganglion of the guinea-pig. J Physiol. 1979 Dec;297(0):95–110. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1979.sp013029. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Sargent P. B., Dennis M. J. Formation of synapses between parasympathetic neurones deprived of preganglionic innervation. Nature. 1977 Aug 4;268(5619):456–458. doi: 10.1038/268456a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from The Journal of Physiology are provided here courtesy of The Physiological Society

RESOURCES