Innervation of the chief cells of the carotid body: an ultrastructural review. 1977

H Kondo

Recent serial ultrathin section studies have shown that a single kind of nerve fiber innervates chief cells of the carotid body through various types of endings. These nerve endings have been described in previous papers as being vesicle-rich, mitochondria-rich or small and large calyciform; these endings occurred in en passant and bouton forms. The intracranial section experiments of the glossopharyngeal nerve seem to support the view that the nerve fiber innervating chief cells is sensory, the soma of which is located in the inferior (petrosal) ganglion, although conflicting data still exist. Two types of synapses have been found at the sites of apposition between nerve fibers and chief cells: one, named efferent or type 1 synapse, in which chief cells are postsynaptic; the other, named afferent or type 2 synapse, in which chief cells are presynaptic. The serial ultrathin section study has shown that a single nerve fiber forms both types, with the latter type predominating. The possibility is strongly suggested that most of efferent synapses on the chief cells are formed by sensory fibers which form numerous afferent synapses, but not by proper efferent fibers. The similarity between chief cells and SIF cells in the autonomic ganglia is suggested in terms of synaptic relations with neuronal elements.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
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
D009412 Nerve Fibers Slender processes of NEURONS, including the AXONS and their glial envelopes (MYELIN SHEATH). Nerve fibers conduct nerve impulses to and from the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM. Cerebellar Mossy Fibers,Mossy Fibers, Cerebellar,Cerebellar Mossy Fiber,Mossy Fiber, Cerebellar,Nerve Fiber
D002344 Carotid Body A small cluster of chemoreceptive and supporting cells located near the bifurcation of the internal carotid artery. The carotid body, which is richly supplied with fenestrated capillaries, senses the pH, carbon dioxide, and oxygen concentrations in the blood and plays a crucial role in their homeostatic control. Glomus Caroticum,Bodies, Carotid,Body, Carotid,Caroticum, Glomus,Carotid Bodies
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
D013564 Sympathetic Nervous System The thoracolumbar division of the autonomic nervous system. Sympathetic preganglionic fibers originate in neurons of the intermediolateral column of the spinal cord and project to the paravertebral and prevertebral ganglia, which in turn project to target organs. The sympathetic nervous system mediates the body's response to stressful situations, i.e., the fight or flight reactions. It often acts reciprocally to the parasympathetic system. Nervous System, Sympathetic,Nervous Systems, Sympathetic,Sympathetic Nervous Systems,System, Sympathetic Nervous,Systems, Sympathetic Nervous
D013569 Synapses Specialized junctions at which a neuron communicates with a target cell. At classical synapses, a neuron's presynaptic terminal releases a chemical transmitter stored in synaptic vesicles which diffuses across a narrow synaptic cleft and activates receptors on the postsynaptic membrane of the target cell. The target may be a dendrite, cell body, or axon of another neuron, or a specialized region of a muscle or secretory cell. Neurons may also communicate via direct electrical coupling with ELECTRICAL SYNAPSES. Several other non-synaptic chemical or electric signal transmitting processes occur via extracellular mediated interactions. Synapse
D051381 Rats The common name for the genus Rattus. Rattus,Rats, Laboratory,Rats, Norway,Rattus norvegicus,Laboratory Rat,Laboratory Rats,Norway Rat,Norway Rats,Rat,Rat, Laboratory,Rat, Norway,norvegicus, Rattus

Related Publications

Copied contents to your clipboard!