HISTOCHEMICAL OBSERVATIONS ON THE CAROTID BODY OF THE DOG

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Abstract
The sites of acetyl-cholinesterase and succinate-dehydrogenase activity were investigated in the carotid body of the dog. The former enzyme is exclusively localized in thin filaments forming networks on the outer surface of the epitheloid cells and that the succinate-dehydrogenase activity roughly coincides with that of the acetyl-cholinesterase. The physiological significance of these nerve-endings may be their ability to modulate the responsiveness of the carotid body chemosensory mechanism to hypoxia. No histochemical evidence was obtained for the presence of epinephrine and epinephrine in the epitheliold cells.