The ultrastructure of paraganglia associated with the inferior mesenteric ganglia in the guinea-pig

Summary The paraganglia of the inferior mesenteric ganglia in the guinea-pig are composed of small chromaffin cells containing an abundance of granule-containing vesicles. The chromaffin cells are almost completely surrounded by satellite cells. In areas in which satellite cell processes do not intervene, the membranes of adjacent chromaffin cells are closely apposed and often form specialized attachment zones. The paraganglia contain a dense capillary network, the endothelial cells of which are often extremely attenuated and show areas of fenestration. The processes of chromaffin cells approach close to the capillary walls and are often bare of satellite cells covering on the side facing the capillary. Evidence has been obtained for the exocytotic release of the contents of chromaffin cell vesicles into pericapillary spaces. Synapses of cholinergic and noradrenergic axons are seen on the chromaffin cells. The cholinergic axons degenerate when the praganglia are decentralized, but the noradrenergic axons, which appear to arise from the local inferior mesenteric ganglia, remain intact. The results suggest that the paraganglia have an endocrine function.