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A wide field electron microscopic analysis of the fiber constituents of the major splanchnic nerve in cat
Author(s) -
Kuo David C.,
Yang Grace C. H.,
Yamasaki Dwayne S.,
Krauthamer George M.
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
journal of comparative neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.855
H-Index - 209
eISSN - 1096-9861
pISSN - 0021-9967
DOI - 10.1002/cne.902100106
Subject(s) - anatomy , splanchnic nerves , rhizotomy , nerve fiber , nerve root , spinal nerve , biology , neuroscience , dorsum , stimulation
The fiber compositio of the left major splanchnic nerve was studed in cats by electron microscopy. Comparisons were made between normal and partically degenerated nerve specimens following ventral rhizotomy (T3‐L1), or spinal nerve division (T3‐L1). Normal, major splanchnic nerves contained 2,500–4,000 myelinated and 10,000–15,000 unmyelinated fibers. Preganglionic fibers included approximately 90% of the finely myelinated (1–7μm) and over 50% of the unmyelinated fibers. Removal of the sensory and preganglionic components by spinal nerve division revealed a third, postganglionic fiber category. This included 13–38 small myelinated (1–5μm) and 1,645‐7,619 unmyelinated fibers. Finally, a comparison of normal and partially degenerated nerve specimens of both groups (ventral rhizotomy and spinal nerve cut) indicated that splanchnic afferents are made up of virtually all of the 120–350 large myelinated (8‐14μm) and 10% of the small myelinated (1–7μm) fibers. A preliminary estimate indicated that about 10–20% of the unmyelinated fibers were sensory. The implications of these findings are discussed.