Adrenergic nerve elements in the hypogatric ganglion of the guinea pig

Adrenergic nerve elements in the hypogastric ganglion of the guinea pig were studied by fluorescence and electron microscopy. The ganglion contains two main elements exhibiting green to green-yellow fluorescence for catecholamines. One consists of basket-like, simple nerve endings around some of the ganglion cell bodies, and the other of small polyhedral cells with short axonic processes. Electron microscopy revealed the ultrastructure of these elements. The adrenergic nerve endings contain small granular vesicles, about 500 Å in diameter, as well as a few large granular and small agranular vesicles. They were more rare than the cholinergic endings, which contain numerous small agranular vesicles mixed with a few large granular vesicles. Both adrenergic and cholinergic endings submerge to a considerable depth into the cytoplasm of ganglion cells. The ganglion cells send spinous processes into these endings. The fluorescent polyhedral cells are probably in an intermediate position between adrenal medullary cells and ganglion cells. They contain numerous large granular vesicles. Their axonic processes extend for a short distance to end in close topographical relation to capillaries. According to the structure of the granulated vesicles, these cells were classified into four types. The function of the adrenergic elements in ganglionic transmission was discussed.