Small granulated cell types in rat superior cervical and coeliac-mesenteric ganglia

Summary In the rat superior cervical and coeliac-mesenteric ganglia we have observed three types of small granulated (SG) cell: Type I cells are characterised by membrane-bounded cytoplasmic granules with a core of variable, moderate to low electron-density, whose limiting membranes are rounded in profile ranging from 50–150 nm in diameter. Type II SG cells contain numerous highly electron-dense, polymorphic cytoplasmic granules ranging from 100–300 nm in diameter. The haloes of Type II cell granules are variable in shape, and the core is often eccentrically located or fragmented. Type III SG cells contain membrane-bounded granules with a core of variable moderate to low electron-density. In profile these granules appear oblong or circular with average dimensions of 170 × 50 nm. All three SG cell types receive cholinergic-type pre-ganglionic terminals whose afferent nature is confirmed by their degeneration following pre-ganglionic neurectomy. Only Type I cells have been observed to donate efferent synapses to dendrites of principal ganglionic neurones and are thus interneuronal.This work was in part supported by a grant from the Medical Research Council. We wish to thank Mr. T.T. Lee for valuable technical assistance and Mr. P.F. Hire and Mr. K. Twohigg for illustrative help