Biomaterial Database

Identification of small intensely fluorescent (SIF) cells as chromaffin cells in bullfrog sympathetic ganglia. 1977

F F Weight, and H A Weitsen

Small intensely fluoresent (SIF) cells were investigated in the ninth and tenth paravertebral sympathetic ganglia of the bullfrog using histochemical and electron microscopic techniques. Fluorescence histochemistry revealed that clusters of SIF cells are sparsely distributed in the ninth and tenth ganglia; the clusters were usually located in the vicinity of blood vessels. Fluorescent processes were not observed emanating from SIF cells. The clusters stained positively for the chromaffin reaction indicating that SIF cells are chromaffin cells. Ultrastructurally, the SIF-chromaffin cells in the sympathetic ganglia appeared virtually identical to the chromaffin cells in the adrenal gland; this includes two cell types that appear morphologically the same as the epinephrine and norepinephrine containing chromaffin cells in the adrenal gland. Efferent synapses from the SIF-chromaffin cells in sympathetic ganglia to sympathetic ganglia to sympathetic neurons were not observed. The SIF-chromaffin cells in bullfrog sympathetic ganglia did not have the morphological characteristics of interneurons; it is suggested that they may function as extra-adrenal chromaffin tissue.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D011892	Rana catesbeiana	A species of the family Ranidae (true frogs). The only anuran properly referred to by the common name "bullfrog", it is the largest native anuran in North America.	Bullfrog,Bullfrogs,Rana catesbeianas,catesbeiana, Rana
D002838	Chromaffin System	The cells of the body which stain with chromium salts. They occur along the sympathetic nerves, in the adrenal gland, and in various other organs.	Argentaffin System,Argentaffin Systems,Chromaffin Systems,System, Argentaffin,System, Chromaffin,Systems, Argentaffin,Systems, Chromaffin
D005260	Female		Females
D005453	Fluorescence	The property of emitting radiation while being irradiated. The radiation emitted is usually of longer wavelength than that incident or absorbed, e.g., a substance can be irradiated with invisible radiation and emit visible light. X-ray fluorescence is used in diagnosis.
D005725	Ganglia, Autonomic	Clusters of neurons and their processes in the autonomic nervous system. In the autonomic ganglia, the preganglionic fibers from the central nervous system synapse onto the neurons whose axons are the postganglionic fibers innervating target organs. The ganglia also contain intrinsic neurons and supporting cells and preganglionic fibers passing through to other ganglia.	Autonomic Ganglia,Ganglion, Autonomic,Autonomic Ganglion
D000311	Adrenal Glands	A pair of glands located at the cranial pole of each of the two KIDNEYS. Each adrenal gland is composed of two distinct endocrine tissues with separate embryonic origins, the ADRENAL CORTEX producing STEROIDS and the ADRENAL MEDULLA producing NEUROTRANSMITTERS.	Adrenal Gland,Gland, Adrenal,Glands, Adrenal
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
D001001	Anura	An order of the class Amphibia, which includes several families of frogs and toads. They are characterized by well developed hind limbs adapted for jumping, fused head and trunk and webbed toes. The term "toad" is ambiguous and is properly applied only to the family Bufonidae.	Bombina,Frogs and Toads,Salientia,Toad, Fire-Bellied,Toads and Frogs,Anuras,Fire-Bellied Toad,Fire-Bellied Toads,Salientias,Toad, Fire Bellied,Toads, Fire-Bellied