Immunohistochemical study of synaptophysin distribution in the superior cervical ganglion of newborn and adult rats.

Intense synaptophysin immunoreactivity was observed around neuronal cell bodies and in the neuropil of the superior cervical ganglion of adult rats. In newborn rats synaptophysin was comparatively less concentrated and restricted to small interstitial spaces. In contrast, in newborns, consistent traces of positivity were found in the Golgi-like area of larger neurons, in agreement with the higher neonatal rate of synaptophysin synthesis. A few clusters of small neurons, numerically more expanded in adult rats, exhibited a dense reaction product filling the whole cytoplasm. No positivity was found in intraganglionic fibres.