A reexamination of multiaxonal nerve endings innervating intrafusal muscle fibers of the Chinese hamster. 1990

J Desaki
Department of Anatomy, Ehime University School of Medicine, Japan.

The multiaxonal nerve endings, consisting of a bundle of axons, were reexamined in the muscle spindles of the adult Chinese hamster. In addition to the frequent occurrence of the multiaxonal endings innervating the nuclear bag fibers in the equatorial region (Desaki and Uehara, 1988), these endings were also occasionally distributed not only in the equatorial region of the nuclear chain fibers, adjacent to annulospiral sensory endings, but also in the polar region of the same muscle fiber. They were derived from non-myelinated stem nerves becoming varicose along their course. Terminal axons composing the endings were almost naked, except at the initial muscle-contact portion, where they were surrounded by Schwann cell processes. They contained a significant number of clear synaptic vesicles and large granulated vesicles, and were closely apposed to each other and to the muscle cell surface without an interposing basal lamina. Some terminal axons formed synaptic contacts with each other and with the muscle cell surface. These structural features, including their wide distribution, suggest that the multiaxonal endings may belong to the autonomic nerves rather than the fusimotor nerves.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009132 Muscles Contractile tissue that produces movement in animals. Muscle Tissue,Muscle,Muscle Tissues,Tissue, Muscle,Tissues, Muscle
D009411 Nerve Endings Branch-like terminations of NERVE FIBERS, sensory or motor NEURONS. Endings of sensory neurons are the beginnings of afferent pathway to the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM. Endings of motor neurons are the terminals of axons at the muscle cells. Nerve endings which release neurotransmitters are called PRESYNAPTIC TERMINALS. Ending, Nerve,Endings, Nerve,Nerve Ending
D009470 Muscle Spindles Skeletal muscle structures that function as the MECHANORECEPTORS responsible for the stretch or myotactic reflex (REFLEX, STRETCH). They are composed of a bundle of encapsulated SKELETAL MUSCLE FIBERS, i.e., the intrafusal fibers (nuclear bag 1 fibers, nuclear bag 2 fibers, and nuclear chain fibers) innervated by SENSORY NEURONS. Muscle Stretch Receptors,Neuromuscular Spindles,Receptors, Stretch, Muscle,Stretch Receptors, Muscle,Muscle Spindle,Muscle Stretch Receptor,Neuromuscular Spindle,Receptor, Muscle Stretch,Receptors, Muscle Stretch,Spindle, Muscle,Spindle, Neuromuscular,Spindles, Muscle,Spindles, Neuromuscular,Stretch Receptor, Muscle
D003412 Cricetulus A genus of the family Muridae consisting of eleven species. C. migratorius, the grey or Armenian hamster, and C. griseus, the Chinese hamster, are the two species used in biomedical research. Hamsters, Armenian,Hamsters, Chinese,Hamsters, Grey,Armenian Hamster,Armenian Hamsters,Chinese Hamster,Chinese Hamsters,Grey Hamster,Grey Hamsters,Hamster, Armenian,Hamster, Chinese,Hamster, Grey
D006224 Cricetinae A subfamily in the family MURIDAE, comprising the hamsters. Four of the more common genera are Cricetus, CRICETULUS; MESOCRICETUS; and PHODOPUS. Cricetus,Hamsters,Hamster
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001369 Axons Nerve fibers that are capable of rapidly conducting impulses away from the neuron cell body. Axon
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