Enhancement of the granulation of adrenergic storage vesicles in drug-free solution

Compartmentalization of monoaminergic synaptic vesicles in the storage and release of neurotransmitter

Monoaminergic nerves are characterized by the presence of a population of small synaptic vesicles (40-60 nm in diameter) containing a few large vesicles (80-90 nm in diameter). Thus, although both types of vesicles contain monoamines, the small vesicles must be considered as the organoid responsible for the storage and release of the neurotransmitter, whereas the large ones possibly are involved in the modulation of the process. The small vesicles are electron-lucent or have an osmiophilic electron-dense core that is always linked to the vesicle membrane. Considering morphological and histochemical evidence under different experimental conditions, we proposed the existence of two compartments in the small vesicles: the core and the matrix, corresponding respectively to the electron-dense core and the electron-lucent space between the core and the vesicle membrane in osmium tetroxide fixations. The sizes of both compartments are inversely related, i.e., the smaller the core, the larger the matrix and vice versa. The core even disappears, giving way to a small electron-lucent vesicle made exclusively by the matrix. Thus, the matrix is a constant component of the vesicle, whereas the core is a transient one. Each compartment has a different pool of amine: a loosely bound, easily releasable pool in the matrix and a tightly bound, more resistant pool in the core. These two pools subserve, respectively, a tonic or phasic release of the neurotransmitter, correlated with a tonic or phasic stimulation of the receptor. The core may be considered as a storage or reserve pool. Experimental evidence from our laboratory supports the concept that different mechanisms are operative in both compartments in the release of the neurotransmitter. For instance, a Ca2(+)-independent release would be primarily concerned with the neurotransmitter contained in the matrix, and a Ca2(+)-dependent efflux would be primarily related with the neurotransmitter stored in the core. However, it still must be established that a simple relationship exists between each kind of stimulus and each vesicle compartment, rather than both compartments being integrated in a dynamic functional unit.

Reinnervation following guanethidine-induced sympathectomy of adult rats

The reinnervation of various tissues by autonomic neurons has been studied in adult rats which had been sympathectomized by chronic guanethidine treatment (30 or 60 mg/kg/day for 8--15 weeks). In the heart, iris, ileum, mesentery, vas deferens and epididymis, fluorescence histochemistry reveals an almost complete disappearance of adrenergic fibres which is very longlasting. Even after 63 weeks few fluorescent fibres can be seen in these tissues and the density of innervation is not increased by incubation in alpha-methylnoradrenaline. The superior cervical ganglion represents an exception; large numbers of fluorescent fibres but few fluorescent ganglion cells were apparent during recovery. Axon counts carried out by electron microscopy on the vas deferens showed that after recovery for one year the number of axons was similar to that of controls; however, the pattern of innervation was abnormal, small granular vesicles were rarely seen and there was little uptake of 5-hydroxydopamine. On the basis of this evidence and of some pharmacological data it is suggested that there is a limited reinnervation by adrenergic axons accompanied by a great increase in the number of non-adrenergic, possibly cholinergic, axons.

Catecholamine-rich cells and varicosities in bovine splenic nerve, vesicle contents and evidence for exocytosis

The bovine splenic nerve trunk contains mast cells, ganglion cells, small intensely fluorescent (SIF) cells, and varicosities which exhibit a brilliant fluorescence characteristic for noradrenaline (NA) and dopamine (DA) after formaldehyde exposure. All these catecholamine-rich structures could contribute particles to isolated nerve vesicle fractions. Mast cells are recognized ultrastructurally by their large (300-800 nm) dense granules. SIF cells may be represented by cells and processes containing dense cored vesicles (120-140 nm) which are larger than the typical vesicles in axons and terminals. Terminal-like areas with typical large dense cored vesicles (LDV, 75 nm) and small dense cored vesicles (SDV, 45-55 nm) probably correspond to the fluorescent varicosities. The LDV constitute about 40% of all vesicles in terminal-like areas and terminals. Their staining properties indicate the presence of protein, phospholipids, and ATP. Tyramine depletes NA without loss of matrix density. The LDV can fuse with the terminal membrane, and released material outside omega profiles is interpreted to depict exocytosis. Large and small vesicles are easily distinguished from the very large mast cell granules and the moderately dense Schwann cell vesicles. Neither appear to contaminate the LDV fractions but the latter may contain a small population of SIF cell vesicles. Golgi vesicles from the Schwann cells mainly occur in the lighter zones of the gradient.

The altrastructure of Auerbach's plexus in the guinea-pig. I. Neuronal elements

The ultrastructural features of nerve cell bodies and axon profiles within Auerbach's plexus in the stomach, ileum, caecum and colon of the guinea-pig have been examined. Nerve cell bodies have been tentatively classified into nine different types according to their size, distribution of organelles, location and relationship to satellite cells. Except for cell size, no attempt has been made to correlate ultrastructual with light microscopical observations. On the basis of vesicular size, shape and content, eight morphologically distinct types of axon profile have been identified as well as two profile types which are thought to reflect different physiological conditions. The axons contained various populations of small, mostly granular vesicles; small, round agranular vesicles; small, flattened vesicles; large flattened or elongated vesicles; and three types of large vesicle with granular contents distinguished by size. Some correlation between types of axon profile and two types of nerve cell body was recognized. However, more than one type of axon profile usually formed synapses with one type of cell body, and a precise correlation was not determined.

Specificity of innervation of iris musculature by sympathetic nerve fibres in tissue culture

Irides from 3-5 day old rats have been grown 1-3 mm from superior cervical or lumbar paravertebral sympathetic ganglia in modified Rose chambers. The two muscles of the iris received distinctly different innervation patterns in vitro, and these were similar to those seen in vivo. Varicose, adrenergic fibres were consistently associated with the dilator pupillae rather than with the sphincter pupillae while excitatory, cholinergic junctions developed between the nerve fibres and the muscle cells of the spincter but not the dilator. There was a lack of specificity shown by the sympathetic neurons during this innervation. Fibres from lumbar ganglia formed plexuses within the dilator similar to those formed by superior cervical fibres, and sympathetic, cholinergic fibres were able to substitute for the normal parasympathetic, cholinergic fibres in the sphincter.

Amphibian sympathetic ganglia in tissue culture

1. A culture medium has been developed for amphibian sympathetic nervous tissue but it is suggested that the ionic values should be adjusted to correspond to the concentrations of salts in the plasma of particular species. 2. The morphology, monoamine fluorescence, growth and differentiation of sympathetic ganglia of the frog, Limnodynastes dumerili, have been studied in culture. 3. Two types of neuron could be distinguished largely according to size, namely small, 18 X 20 mum and large, 38 X 42 mum. The possibility that these represent one type at different stages in development or represent functionally distinct neurons is discussed. 4. The sympathetic neurons are extremely sensitive to nerve growth factor (NGF) which caused an increase in the size of the cell bodies, the number of nerve fibres regenerating, the rate of axonal growth and synthesis of catecholamines. 5. Various other cell types appearing in the cultures have been described, including chromaffin, satellite, Schwann, multipolar and epithelial cells as well as fibroblasts, melanocytes and macrophages. The epithelial cells show slow contractions and changes in shape.