Studies of the innervation of rabbit myometrium and cervix

1989 ◽  
Vol 67 (8) ◽  
pp. 837-844 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Bulat ◽  
M. S. Kannan ◽  
R. E. Garfield
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Blood Vessels ◽  
Spontaneous Activity ◽  
Isometric Contraction ◽  
Glyoxylic Acid ◽  
Adrenergic Innervation ◽  
Significant Inhibition ◽  
Adrenergic Nerves ◽  
Field Stimulation

We characterized the innervation of isolated circular and longitudinal-oriented muscle strips from the nulliparous rabbit uterus and cervix by field stimulation (FS). FS with increasing frequency (2.5–50 pps) and voltage (2.5–70 V) caused graded increases in isometric contraction with no relaxation or inhibition of spontaneous activity. Tetrodotoxin(TTX, 3.1 × 10−6 M) significantly reduced the FS response by 75% in all strips at higher stimulus frequencies. Contractile responses to FS were also significantly inhibited by atropine (3.5 × 10−6 M) in circular uterus and in longitudinal cervix. Guanethidine (5 × 10−6 M) reduced the response in all strips, as did phentolamine (3.6 × 10−6 M) in longitudinal uterus and circular cervix. Propranolol (3.9 × 10−6 M) did not significantly change the response in longitudinal uterus or circular cervix. In longitudinal uterus, combined guanethidine and atropine produced significant inhibition, but not statistically different from either drug alone. Similar results were seen in circular uterus. Electron microscopy and glyoxylic acid histofluorescence indicate that both blood vessels and smooth muscle in rabbit uterus are supplied with adrenergic nerves. The results suggest the presence of TTX-sensitive adrenergic and cholinergic excitatory innervation of rabbit uterus and cervix.Key words: uterus, myometrium, cervix, adrenergic innervation.

III. The mechanisms of action of neurotransmitters - Electrical changes underlying excitation and inhibition in intestinal and related smooth muscle

1973 ◽  
Vol 265 (867) ◽  
pp. 95-106 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Adrenergic Innervation ◽  
Resting Potential ◽  
Adrenergic Nerve ◽  
Field Stimulation ◽  
Low Frequencies ◽  
Single Spike ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Membrane Oscillations ◽  
Resting Tone

Intestinal smooth muscle is normally spontaneously active and contraction is associated with spike activity. Stimulation of excitatory (cholinergic) nerves increases spike frequency while inhibitory (adrenergic) nerve activity reduces slow waves and spikes without necessarily producing hyperpolarization. Activity of intrinsic nerves produces inhibition with marked hyperpolarization. The anococcygeus muscle of the rat, a muscle associated with the alimentary canal, has a dense adrenergic innervation and has neither resting tone nor spontaneous activity. The mean resting potential is 58.4 mV. Field stimulation produces graded depolarization associated with contraction and abolished by phentolamine. The depolarization has an initial component of up to 10 mV followed by a response which can reach 50 mV, the largest sometimes having a single spike on the rising phase. Application of noradrenaline or guanethidine produces depolarization with oscillations at 1/s and maintained contraction. Field stimulation at low frequencies during this contraction causes relaxation and reduction in the membrane oscillations but no repolarization.

Electron microscopy of the glio-vascular organization of the brain of octopus

1969 ◽  
Vol 255 (797) ◽  
pp. 13-32 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Blood Vessels ◽  
Light And Electron Microscopy ◽  
Muscle Cells ◽  
Medium Size ◽  
Muscle Fibres ◽  
Special Importance ◽  
Form Complex ◽  
Large Neurons

The glio-vascular organization of the octopus brain has been studied by light and electron microscopy. The structure of the walls of the blood vessels has been described. Two types of neuroglia can be recognized, the fibrous and protoplasmic glia; also enigmatic dark cells. Most blood vessels in the neuropil are surrounded by extracellular zones containing collagen. These zones give off glio-vascular tunnels (strands) that penetrate the neuropil in a complex network. The extracellular zones and tunnels contain in addition to collagen, smooth muscle cells and fibrocytes. Glial processes surround the extracellular zones and incompletely partition them from the neuropil. The small neuronal perikarya have no glial folds around them. The medium-size cells have thin glial sheets or finger processes related to their surfaces, which may indent the cells to form small trophospongia. The large neurons of the suboesophageal lobe have complex glial sheaths interspersed with extracellular channels. Both penetrate the neurons to form complex trophospongia. A new form of extracellular material has been observed in these extracellular channels. The occurrence of trophospongia in vertebrate and invertebrate neurons may be correlated with the absence of dendrites. Special problems discussed include the nature of the trophospongial function, the question of fluid-filled extracellular zones and their possible function as lymph channels, and the presence in some of them of haemocyanin molecules identical with those in the blood vessels. Perhaps of special importance is the observation that the lobes of the octopus brain are permeated with extracellular tunnels containing smooth muscle fibres, but it still needs to be determined whether or not the muscle cells in the tunnels of the neuropil actively contract and massage the neuropil to facilitate metabolic and other exchanges.

The innervation of smooth muscle in the primary bronchus of the chicken

1980 ◽  
Vol 58 (3) ◽  
pp. 310-315 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Bhatla ◽  
C. C. Ferguson ◽  
J. B. Richardson
Keyword(s):  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Adrenergic Innervation ◽  
Primary Response ◽  
Cholinergic Innervation ◽  
Field Stimulation ◽  
Inhibitory System ◽  
Granular Vesicles ◽  
Adrenergic Blocking ◽  
Large Granular Vesicles

The innervation of the primary bronchus of the chicken was studied with in vitro pharmacological techniques and with the electron microscope. The primary response of the smooth muscle to field stimulation is relaxation of the muscle and this is not blocked by adrenergic blocking agents. Excitatory cholinergic innervation can be demonstrated when the muscle is partially relaxed. Examination of the ultrastructure of the muscle and nerves shows numerous axon profiles filled with large granular vesicles of the type associated with noradrenergic or purinergic neurotransmission. Agranular vesicles characteristic of cholinergic innervation are also seen but there is no evidence of adrenergic innervation to the smooth muscle. The smooth muscle ceils show connections of the nexus type. These findings indicate that the primary bronchus of the chicken has a dominant inhibitory system and this is nonadrenergic in type.

Structural studies of innervation on nonpregnant rat uterus

1986 ◽  
Vol 251 (1) ◽  
pp. C41-C54 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. E. Garfield
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Blood Vessels ◽  
Glyoxylic Acid ◽  
Uterine Wall ◽  
Nerve Fibers ◽  
Whole Mount ◽  
Myometrial Contractility ◽  
Cervical Ganglia ◽  
Granular Vesicles ◽  
6 Hydroxydopamine

Whole-mount preparations of the uterus and mesentery from nonpregnant rats were examined after staining with glyoxylic acid or acetylcholinesterase to demonstrate the innervation. Some uterine tissues were also evaluated by electron microscopy. Glyoxylic acid fluorescent nerves were present in the mesentery, mesometrium, and uterine wall exclusively around blood vessels. Acetylcholinesterase positive nerve fibers from Frankenhauser's plexus (cervical ganglia) were associated with blood vessels and muscle in the uterine wall but not in the mesentery. Electron microscopy revealed nerve varicosities with granular vesicles associated with blood vessels and varicosities with agranular vesicles located near blood vessels and muscle cells. Treatment of animals for 3 days with 5- and 6-hydroxydopamine, respectively, increased granular size and damaged the varicosities with granular vesicles but did not change nerves with agranular vesicles or induce the presence of gap junctions. The results of this study suggest that blood vessels in the uterus are highly innervated by both adrenergic and other types of nerves that probably control blood flow. Nonadrenergic but not adrenergic nerves may also directly control myometrial contractility.

Evidence for alpha-adrenergic innervation of the isolated canine thoracic duct

1980 ◽  
Vol 49 (6) ◽  
pp. 1010-1015 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. Russell ◽  
K. Zimmerman ◽  
W. F. Middendorf
Keyword(s):  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Electrical Stimulation ◽  
Spontaneous Activity ◽  
Pulse Duration ◽  
Thoracic Duct ◽  
Acetylcholine Receptors ◽  
Adrenergic Innervation ◽  
Alpha Receptors

The excitatory innervation of isolated thoracic duct segments was studied using tissue bath techniques. No spontaneous activity was present in longitudinal or helical strips obtained from a portion of the thoracic duct cephalad to the hilum of the lung. Norepinephrine (10(-8) to 10(-5) M) and tyramine (3 x 10(-5) M) produced contractions that were antagonized by phentolamine (2 x 10(-5) M) and phenoxybenzamine (10(-7) M). Acetylcholine (10(-7) to 10(-4) M) produced contractions that were antagonized by atropine (5 x 10(-9) M). Thoracic duct strips also contracted in response to field electrical stimulation, and maximal responses were obtained with a stimulus of 15 V, 15 Hz, and 1-ms pulse duration. These electrically induced contractions were abolished by tetrodotoxin (5 x 10(-7) M), phentolamine (2 x 10(-5) M), phenoxybenzamine (10(-7) M), and guanethidine (3 x 10(-6) M), but not by atropine (10(-6) M). We conclude that smooth muscle of the canine thoracic duct contains alpha-adrenergic and acetylcholine receptors, both of which cause contraction when stimulated. However, only the alpha-receptors appear to be innervated.

scholarly journals Ultrastructural analysis of small blood vessels in skin biopsies in CADASIL

2008 ◽  
Vol 60 (4) ◽  
pp. 573-580 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vesna Lackovic ◽  
M. Bajcetic ◽  
Nadezda Sternic ◽  
V. Kostic ◽  
Jasna Zidverc ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Blood Vessels ◽  
Autosomal Dominant ◽  
Specific Marker ◽  
Dense Bodies ◽  
Skin Biopsies ◽  
Artery Disease ◽  
Skin Blood Vessels ◽  
The Brain

Cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) is an inherited small- and medium-artery disease of the brain caused by mutation of the Notch3 gene. Very often, this disease is misdiagnosed. We examined skin biopsies in two members of the first discovered Serbian family affected by CADASIL. Electron microscopy showed that skin blood vessels of both patients contain numerous deposits of granular osmiophilic material (GOM) around vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). We observed degeneration of VSMCs, reorganization of their cytoskeleton and dense bodies, disruption of myoendothelial contacts, and apoptosis. Our results suggest that the presence of GOM in small skin arteries represents a specific marker in diagnosis of CADASIL.

scholarly journals Choroidal vascularization and adrenergic innervation qualitative findings obtained with induced fluorescence preparations and optical coherence tomography angiography: possible correlations and perspectives

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Raffaele Nuzzi ◽  
Federico Tridico ◽  
Alessandro Marchese ◽  
Francesco Bandello
Keyword(s):  
Optical Coherence Tomography ◽  
Blood Vessels ◽  
Glyoxylic Acid ◽  
Dynamic Structure ◽  
Adrenergic Innervation ◽  
Biologically Active ◽  
Optical Coherence ◽  
Histochemical Analysis ◽  
Direct Evaluation

Abstract Background Recent advances in optical coherence tomography (OCT) technology allow a more accurate choroidal visualization. The aim of this study is to provide histochemical analysis with induced fluorescence images of the choroidal stromal, vascular and nerve network, highlighting possible correspondences with OCT and OCT angiography (OCT-A) analysis. Methods The material examined with a histochemical process of induced fluorescence through condensation of biologically active monoamines with glyoxylic acid was obtained from 6 eyes enucleated for malignant melanoma and ciliary body neoplasia. The resulting images have been qualitatively compared with OCT and OCT-A choroidal images obtained from 10 volunteers, in order to identify possible relationships. Choriocapillary segmentation was performed automatically through the embedded analysis software, while segmentation of Sattler’s and Haller’s layers was performed through a manual method. Results Histochemical analysis provided accurate visualization of choroidal adrenergic innervation across all layers and its relationships with blood vessels and melanocytes. The above structures were not visualized at OCT and OCT-A which provided good visualization of blood vessels in Sattler’s and Haller’s layers as well-delimited hyporeflective areas. Decorrelation signal was not detected in OCT-A analysis due to low blood flow velocity in external choroidal layers. Conclusions The choroid is an extremely dynamic structure which deserves to be analyzed in vivo since it is involved in the pathogenesis of several ocular conditions. Direct evaluation of the activity of choroidal nerves and melanocytes is still not possible with OCT and OCT-A, even if they are capable of providing a satisfactory representation of choroidal vascularization.

scholarly journals ENDOTHELIAL CONTRACTION INDUCED BY HISTAMINE-TYPE MEDIATORS

1969 ◽  
Vol 42 (3) ◽  
pp. 647-672 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guido Majno ◽  
Stephen M. Shea ◽  
Monika Leventhal
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Blood Vessels ◽  
Venous Congestion ◽  
Cremaster Muscle ◽  
Satisfactory Explanation ◽  
To Receive ◽  
Intercellular Gaps ◽  
Chemical Mediators

Previous work has shown that endogenous chemical mediators, of which histamine is the prototype, increase the permeability of blood vessels by causing gaps to appear between endothelial cells. In the present paper, morphologic and statistical evidence is presented, to suggest that endothelial cells contract under the influence of mediators, and that this contraction causes the formation of intercellular gaps. Histamine, serotonin, and bradykinin were injected subcutaneously into the scrotum of the rat, and the vessels of the underlying cremaster muscle were examined by electron microscopy. To eliminate the vascular collapse induced by routine fixation, in one series of animals (including controls) the root of the cremaster was constricted for 2–4 min prior to sacrifice, and the tissues were fixed under conditions of mild venous congestion. Electron micrographs were taken of 599 nuclei from the endothelium of small blood vessels representing the various experimental situations. Nuclear deformations were classified into four types of increasing tightness (notches, foldsl closing folds, and pinches. In the latter the apposed surfaces of the nuclear membrane are in contact). It was found that: (1) venous congestion tends to straighten the nuclei in al groups; (2) mediators cause a highly significant increase in the number of pinches (P < 0.001), also if the vessels are distended by venous congestion; (3) fixation without venous congestion causes vascular collapse. The degree of endothelial recoil, as measured by nuclear pinches, is very different from that caused by mediators (P < 0.001). (4) Pinched nuclei are more frequent in leaking vessels, and in cells adjacent to gaps (P < 0.001); (5) mediators also induce, in the endothelium, cytoplasmic changes suggestive of contraction, and similar to those of contracted smooth muscle; (6) there is no evidence of pericyte contraction under the conditions tested. Occasional pericytes appeared to receive fine nerve endings. Various hypotheses to explain nuclear pinching are discussed; the only satisfactory explanation is that which requires endothelial contraction.

Permeability of Endometrial Blood Vessels to Exogenous Horse Radish Peroxidase in Mice. Electron Microscope Study

1973 ◽  
Vol 31 ◽  
pp. 562-563
Author(s):  
M.C. Castillo-Jessen ◽  
A. González-Angulo
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Blood Vessels ◽  
Electron Microscope Study ◽  
Ultrastructural Level ◽  
Low Molecular Weight ◽  
Horse Radish Peroxidase ◽  
Intravascular Injection ◽  
Normal Morphology ◽  
Functional Implications ◽  
Low Molecular Weight Proteins

Information regarding the normal morphology of uterine blood vessels at ultrastructural level in mammals is scarce Electron microscopy studies dealing with endometrial vasculature despite the functional implications due to hormone priming are not available. Light microscopy observations with combined injection of dyes and microradiography along with histochemical studies does not enable us to know the detailed fine structure of the possible various types of blood vessels in this tissue. The present work has been designed to characterize the blood vessels of endometrium of mice as well as the behavior of the endothelium to injection of low molecular weight proteins during the normal estrous cycle in this animal. One hundred and forty female albino mice were sacrificed after intravascular injection of horse radish peroxidase (HRP) at 30 seconds, 5, 15, 30 and 60 minutes.

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