Summary
The ultrastructure of axon profiles which were completely ensheathed in smooth muscle cells has been described in the guinea pig, mouse and rat vas deferens. The axon profiles contained both small (500 Å) and large (1,000 Å) vesicles, neurotubules and mitochondria. Adrenergic axons were clearly identified within smooth muscle cells after treatment of the tissue with 5-or 6-hydroxydopamine, drugs which cause specific ultrastructural changes in adrenergic axons. The ensheathed axons were separated from the surrounding muscle cells by narrow, regular gaps, usually about 100–300 Å wide. Schwann cells seldom accompanied the ensheathed axons. Axons often penetrated the muscle cells in the nuclear region and profiles were sometimes observed among the perinuclear organelles.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bennett, M. R.: The effect of intracellular current pulses in smooth muscle cells of the guinea-pig vas deferens at rest and during transmission. J. gen. Physiol. 50, 2459–2475 (1967).
—, Burnstock, G.: Electrophysiology of the innervation of intestinal smooth muscle. In: Handbook of physiology, sec. 6, vol. 4, p. 1709–1732, ed. C. F. Code. Washington: Am. Physiol Soc. 1968.
—, Merrillees, N. C. R.: An analysis of the transmission of excitation from autonomic nerves to smooth muscle. J. Physiol. (Lond.) 185, 520–535 (1966).
Burnstock, G., Merrillees, N. C. R.: Structural and experimental studies on autonomic nerve endings in smooth muscle. In: Pharmacology of smooth muscle, ed. E. Bülbring, p. 1–17. Oxford: Pergamon Press 1964.
Furness, J. B.: The excitatory input to a single smooth muscle cell. Pflügers Arch. ges. Physiol. 314, 1–13 (1970).
—, Campbell, G. R., Gillard, S. M., Malmfors, T., Cobb, J. L. S., Burnstock, G.: Cellular studies of sympathetic denervation produced by 6-hydroxydopamine in the vas deferens. J. Pharm. exp. Ther. 174, 111–122 (1970).
Holman, M. E.: Junction potentials in smooth muscle. In: Smooth muscle, ed. E. Bülbring, A. F. Brading, A. W. Jones and T. Tomita, p. 244–288. London: Arnold 1970.
Iwayama, T.: Ultrastructural changes in the nerves innervating the cerebral artery after sympathectomy. Z. Zellforsch. (in press, 1970).
- Furness, J. B.: Enhancement of the granulation of adrenergic storage vesicles in drug-free solution. J. Cell Biol. (in press, 1970).
Lane, B. P., Rhodin, J. A. G.: Cellular interrelationships and electrical activity in two types of smooth muscle. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 10, 470–488 (1964).
Merrillees, N. C. R.: The nervous environment of individual smooth muscle cells of the guineapig vas deferens. J. Cell Biol. 37, 794–817 (1968).
—, Burnstock, G., Holman, M. E.: Correlation of fine structure and physiology of the innervation of smooth muscle in the guinea-pig vas deferens. J. Cell Biol. 19, 529–550 (1963).
Nagasawa, J., Mito, S.: Electron microscopic observations on the innervation of the smooth muscle. Tohoku J. exp. Med. 91, 277–293 (1967).
Richardson, K. C.: The fine structure of autonomic nerve endings in smooth muscle of the rat vas deferens. J. Anat. (Lond.) 96, 427–442 (1962).
Taxi, J.: Contribution à 1' étude des connexions des neurones moteurs du système nerveux autonome. Ann. Sci. nat. Zool. 7, 413–674 (1965).
Thaemert, J. C.: The ultrastructure and disposition of vesiculated nerve processes in smooth muscle. J. Cell Biol. 16, 361–377 (1963).
Tomita, T.: Current spread in the smooth muscle of the guinea-pig vas deferens. J. Physiol. (Lond.) 189, 163–176 (1967).
Tranzer, J. P., Thoenen, H.: Electronmicroscopic localization of 5-hydroxydopamine (3, 4, 5-trihydroxy-phenylethylamine), a new “false” sympathetic transmitter. Experientia (Basel) 23, 743 (1967).
Tranzer, J. P., Thoenen, H., Snipes, R. L., Richards, J. G.: Recent developments on the ultrastructural aspect of adrenergic nerve endings in various experimental conditions. Progr. Brain Res. 31, 33–46 (1969).
Watanabe, H.: Electron microscopic observations on the innervation of smooth muscle in the guinea pig vas deferens. Acta anat. nippon. 44, 189–202 (1969) [In Japanese].
Yamauchi, A., Burnstock, G.: Post-natal development of the innervation of the mouse vas deferens. A fine structural study. J. Anat. (Lond.) 104, 17–32 (1969).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Furness, J.B., Iwayama, T. Terminal axons ensheathed in smooth muscle cells of the vas deferens. Z. Zellforsch. 113, 259–270 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00339420
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00339420