Enzyme histochemical and autoradio graphic methods provided evidence for adrenergic and cholinergic innervation of both alpha and beta cells in the islets of Langerhans of the cat. DIABETES 17:33-36, January, 1968.

Langley (1900) originally suggested that the postganglionic sympathetic nerves which innervate the cat nictitating membrane are derived from cell bodies in the superior cervical ganglion. This contention was supported by Thompson (1961) Rand (1959) that adrenergic nerves contain a cholinergic mechanism which is functionally related to the release of noradrenaline. METHODSA total of nine young adult cats of either sex was used in this study. In two cats right superior cervical ganglionectomy was performed under ether anaesthesia with recovery ; the animals were killed respectively 2 days and 28 days after sympathectomy.The nictitating membrane of the cat is retracted by two smooth muscle sheets-the inferior and the medial muscles-both arising from the peribulbar fascia (Acheson, 1938). Samples of smooth muscle can be readily obtained via an incision through the orbital fascia after fully exhibiting the nictitating membrane by drawing it laterally across the eye. Specimens from intact and sympathectomized animals were processed as follows.

No abstract

No abstract