Morphometric measurements have been made by light and electron microscopy on sections of perfused sympathetic ganglia from rats of 6-24 months of age with special reference to the microvascular bed. Capillaries, postcapillary venules and small venules comprised the majority of the vessels studied but small arterioles were, in addition, included in the light microscopical part of the study. Light microscopical measurements using image analysis showed that there was a decrease in the density of the microvascular bed (number of vascular profiles/area) and in the total vascular luminal area with age in both ganglia. The ratio of neurons to microvessels remained constant in the superior cervical ganglion (SCG) but decreased with age in the coeliac-superior mesenteric ganglion (CSMG). However, the distribution of microvessels in relation to individual neurons remained unchanged throughout life in both ganglia. Ultrastructural studies revealed fenestrations in 12% of SCG microvessel profiles and in 38% of CSMG microvessels at 6 months, but the percentage of fenestrated profiles in the CSMG had declined by 24 months. There were no significant differences in the number of fenestrations per fenestrated profile. The basal lamina surrounding the microvessels increased significantly (almost doubling) in thickness with age. The range and distribution of microvessel wall thicknesses, expressed as harmonic mean wall thickness, were comparable in both ganglia at both ages and increased linearly according to the amount of pericyte covering present. No consistently significant relationships could be discerned between the microvessel wall thickness and luminal diameter or between the wall thickness and the area available to a given volume of blood for exchange of metabolites (luminal perimeter/luminal area). We conclude that the ganglionic capillary bed is similar in both ganglia and, in old age, accommodates structural changes that occur in the ganglion by maintaining its structure and relationship to individual neurons.

An angiomyolipoma is one of the very rare benign tumors. All three elements, that is, blood vessels, adipose tissue and smooth muscles, should be present to qualify it to be labelled as an ‘angiomyolipoma’. Although it has been reported at other sites also like mediastinum, heart, spermatic cord, fallopian tube, oral cavity, penis, salivary glands, and skin.

Hamartomas are benign proliferative lesions with no metastatic properties. The hamartoma of the tongue is usually rare. It is usually difficult to diagnose grossly. But can be diagnosed definitely with help of histopathological examination. Our case study is on a 5-year-old female who was asymptomatic and presented with cystic swelling at the base of the tongue which was initially diagnosed as a cyst but was diagnosed histopathologically as a hamartoma.