An autoradiographic study of satellite cells in autonomic ganglia

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Abstract
This investigation was undertaken to observe and to correlate the responses of satellite cells in autonomic ganglia to increased neuronal and synaptic activity. By electrically stimulating preganglionic nerve fibers terminating in the superior cervical sympathetic ganglion in 19 adult cats and concurrently injecting thymidine‐H3 into the stimulated animal, it was possible to alter the neuronal and synaptic activity within the superior cervical ganglion and subsequently observe from autoradiograms the cellular absorption of thymidine‐H3. The specific reaction encountered was incorporation of thymidine‐H3 into the nuclei of satellite cells. Absorption of thymidine by satellite cells and incorporation of this compound into their nuclear structure could be accelerated or inhibited by exposing the organism to specific drugs (viz. neostigmine and atropine sulfate) during the stimulatory period.The results of this investigation combined with information gathered from studies in many other scientific areas implicate satellite cell participation in response to increased neuronal metabolism and possibly to increased synaptic activity. Satellite cells apparently proliferate to cope with the demands of increased ganglionic activity elicited by the experimental procedures employed in this study. Although specific reactions of satellite cells other than cellular proliferation were not identified in this study, their probability may provide a basis for further investigation.