RE-INNERVATION OF RAT ADRENAL-MEDULLA TRANSPLANTED IN ANTERIOR EYE CHAMBER

  • 1 January 1978
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 127  (OCT) , 323-331
Abstract
Rat adrenal medulla transplanted to the anterior chamber of the eye was studied by EM in an attempt to examine the possibility of reinnervation of the tissue by foreign nerves. The pretreatment with the i.p. injection of 5-hydroxydopamine (5-OHDA) was done to enhance the appearance of adrenergic nerve fibres. Cytoplasmic processes of adrenomedullary chromaffine cells and neuronal elements enveloped by satellite cells were reconstructed by using some series of 50-200 serial ultrathin sections. Transplanted chromaffin cells consisted of noradrenaline [norepinephrine] cells, adrenaline [epinephrine] cells and small granule-containing cells, and they formed long cytoplasmic processes. Some chromaffin cells were directly apposed to the iridial epithelial cells. A few adrenergic and cholinergic ganglion cells were seen in the transplant. Nerve fibers, mostly cholinergic, but a few adrenergic, were seen within satellite cells enclosing chromaffin and ganglion cells. A few synapses were formed on the chromaffin and ganglion cells, though the number of such synapses remained small even 6 mo. after transplantation. The possible origin of these nerve fibers are discussed and it is suggested that the sustentacular and satellite cells play a role in terms of the specificity of reinnervation.