A comparative study on the innervation and the vascularization of the bulbus arteriosus in teleost fish

Summary The structure of the bulbus arteriosus of a wide range of teleost fish is described with particular reference to the vascularization and innervation. The adventitia of the organ consists of blood vessels and large nerve bundles in a collagen matrix. The nerve bundles contain monoamines, and fluorescence studies show small terminal bundles penetrating the muscular media; this is confirmed by electron microscopy. The media consists of an extensive elastic tissue matrix with a spiral arrangement of smooth muscle cells joined end to end by desmosomes and presumed electrotonic junctions. The muscle cells are innervated only at the adventitia/media boundary and the significance of this innervation is discussed. It is proposed that there is a correlation between the degree of vascularization and innervation and the activity of a particular species offish.     

A comparative study of the adrenergic innervation of the iris and ciliary structures in 18 species in phylogenesis

A detailed topography of adrenergic innervation in invertebrates (lobster), low vertebrates (fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds), and nine species of mammals is presented. Flack and Hillarp's specific fluorescent histochemical method using freeze-dried material was used. Phylogenetically, adrenergic innervation appeared earlier under the ciliary epithelium and in the muscle than surrounding the vessels, and in all species many fibers were without any connection to the vessel walls. Adrenergic innervation was very rich in the dilator muscle extending toward the epithelium of the posterior chamber; a surprisingly rich network was found in the sphincter muscle and also in ciliary spaces of some species. Numerous fluorescent mast cells were visualized in the pecten of the bird eye and in the ciliary tissue of the sheep and cow.     

Ultrastructure and adrenergic innervation of preglomerular arterioles in the euryhaline teleost,Salmo gairdneri

Summary The opisthonephric kidney of the rainbow trout was investigated by light- and electron microscopy and a fluorescent-histochemical technique for biogenic amines was used. Preglomerular sphincters at the origin of afferent arterioles are present in this euryhaline teleost. The branching point of the afferent arteriole is characterized by (i) the formation of a right angle with the parent vessel, (ii) circularly arranged smooth muscle cells of the tunica media, (iii) additional circularly arranged smooth muscle cells intercalated between endothelium and tunica media, and (iv) a collar-like arrangement of several large endothelial cells with elaborate marginal folds and abundant myoendothelial junctions. A dense adrenergic innervation displaying specific fluorescence was found along the terminal arterioles and afferent arterioles, and conspicuously at the preglomerular sphincters. These results are suggestive of a neural participation in kidney function. They are discussed on the basis of recent evidence from pharmacological and physiological experiments for neural involvement in glomerular intermittency.     

The peripheral adrenergic innervation apparatus

Summary Adrenergic neurons, studied by the fluorescent method for norepinephrine, are widely distributed throughout the male urinary and seminal tract organs. They occur both within ganglia and outside of ganglia as isolated cells.The extraganglionic cells are classified according to their location as paravascular, epineural, and terminal. The paravascular and epineural ganglion cells are morphologically similar to the cells found within ganglia, while the terminal ganglion cells differ mainly in being smaller and having multiple divergent axonal processes.The existence of extraganglionic as well as ganglionic adrenergic cells within the innervated organs adds further support to, and extends the concept of the short adrenergic neuron.Supported in part by Grant No. HE 10465 from the USPHS.     

Neuropharmacology of adrenergic neurons in teleost fish

Although this brief review is based on relatively few types of experiments in few species of teleosts, it is possible to summarize some points of interest regarding the similarities and differences in the mechanisms of adrenergic neurotransmission in fish compared to the higher vertebrates. 1. There is a substantial mixing of cranial autonomic ("parasympathetic") and spinal autonomic ("sympathetic") pathways in the cranial nerves. This close relationship between the two systems and the differences in the nature of the neurons of cranial origin (cholinergic, and non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic) and spinal origin (adrenergic, cholinergic and mixed "polynergic") gives a basis in fish also for a complex pattern of innervation of the various organs. 2. Adrenaline is the major transmitter substance in the adrenergic neurons of most teleosts studied, but there are exceptions within the same species. For instance, in the swimbladder mucosa of the cod, noradrenaline dominates, while adrenaline is the major catecholamine in most other organs innervated by adrenergic neurons. The reasons for the regional differences are not known and further studies of the rate of catecholamine turn-over in the adrenergic neurons of fish are clearly indicated. 3. Adrenoceptors of both the alpha- and the beta-type show great similarities with those of mammals. Some differences in the potencies of certain compounds (e.g., clonidine and methoxamine) exist and receptor binding studies should add valuable information about the adrenoceptors of teleosts. The existence of a subtype of beta-adrenoceptor (beta 2) has been proposed and further work is needed to confirm or deny the applicability of the beta 1/beta 2 adrenoceptor terminology in fish. 4. There appears to be some differences in the mode of action of the so called "indirectly acting amines", such as tyramine, between teleosts and mammals. While the uptake of tyramine into the nerve terminals in mammals appears to take place via the cocaine-sensitive neuronal uptake system which is also responsible for catecholamine uptake (uptake 1), tyramine uptake in cod neurons appears to be via a separate pathway. 5. Presynaptic supersensitivity of the type seen in mammals has also been demonstrated in teleost adrenergic neurons. Both denervation (chemical or surgical) and blockade of the neuronal uptake mechanism by cocaine or desipramine produce this type of supersensitivity, while post-synaptic supersensitivity has so far not been described in teleosts. The effects of removal of the uptake system shows that the uptake process may be as important in teleosts as in mammals in the removal of adrenergic transmitter from the synaptic cleft. 6. In the total picture of adrenergic functions in fish, the circulating catecholamines take a special role...     

A comparative study of the adrenergic nerves to the anterior eye segment of some primates

Summary The distribution of adrenergic terminals to the anterior eye segment of humans, Cynomolgue monkeys, squirrel monkeys, owl monkeys, Cebus monkeys, vervets, tamarins, and baboons has been investigated. The cornea is normally devoid of adrenergic terminals, except in a plexus near the limbus. The trabecular meshwork contains varying numbers of adrenergic terminals: usually none in Cynomolgus monkeys, patas monkeys, vervets, and humans, although fibres have very rarely been observed in Cynomolgus monkeys, vervets, and humans; a few in owl monkeys, squirrel monkeys, and tamarins; and moderate numbers in Cebus monkeys and baboons. From the evidence, however, it seems premature to presume an adrenergic innervation of the trabecular mechanism regulating the outflow resistance. The dilatator pupillae is regularly supplied with numerous adrenergic terminals and in the iris stroma there is probably an adrenergic innervation of the melanophores. The sphincter pupillae regularly contains adrenergic terminals with notable species differences; most fibres occur in baboons and fewest in humans, with the remaining species forming a middle class. The ciliary processes in all species contain a moderate number of adrenergic terminals, presumably primarily associated with the epithelium. Intraepithelial adrenergic terminals have been observed on the pars plana of the ciliary body of humans, Cebus monkeys, vervets, baboons, and patas monkeys. The ciliary muscle of baboons and Cynomolgus monkeys contains numerous adrenergic terminals. Moderate numbers occur in Cebus monkeys and vervets, and still less in (in falling order) tamarins, squirrel monkeys, humans, and patas monkeys.