The ultrastructure of sympathetic ganglia of the lizard Cnemidophorus neomexicanus

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Abstract
Sympathetic ganglia of six Cnemidophorus neomexicanus lizards were fixed by immersion with glutaraldehyde or a combination of glutaraldehyde and paraformaldehyde. All ganglia were post‐fixed in 1% osmium tetroxide and embedded in Epon.Neuronal somata and processes of stellate ganglia were ensheathed typically by capsular cell cytoplasm and membranes; however, parts of some processes were invested only by basement membrane. Axo‐somatic, axo‐dendritic and axo‐axonal synapses were observed. Pre‐ and post‐synaptic processes contained 200 Å neurotubules, 100 Å neurofilaments, 225–500 Å presumptive glycogen granules and occasional multivesicular bodies. Presynaptic endings contained 500–700 Å “clear” vesicles and a few dense‐cored vesicles of 600–1100 Å.Aggregates composed of 225–500 Å granules, presumably glycogen, were frequently found in peripheral perikaryal positions in intimate association with lipid droplets. Clusters of particles within somata were also found which resembled ribosomes but were not associated with endoplasmic reticulum or vesicular membranous elements. These clusters, perhaps “areticular Nissl substance,” were associated in some instances with fibrillar material or lattice‐like granular structures. Abundant and frequently large lipid droplets were observed in proximity to the ribosomal‐like particulate material.

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