par Schulman, Claude 
Référence Annales d'histochimie, 21, 2, page (163-178)
Publication Publié, 1976
Référence Annales d'histochimie, 21, 2, page (163-178)
Publication Publié, 1976
Article révisé par les pairs
| Résumé : | The role played by the autonomic nervous system in the ureteric physiology remains a controversial question. The histochemical study of fluorescent catecholamines and acetylcholinesterase has demonstrated a dual adrenergic and cholinergic innervation of the human and rabbit ureter. The ureteric innervation is characterized by terminal nerve fibers and ganglia located in the terminal portion of the ureter. These ganglia are composed of cholinergic and adrenergic elements which represent 'short adrenergic neurons' since they are located in close proximity to the innervated organ and this is in opposition with the classical concept of the organization of the sympathetic nervous system. The ultrastructural study confirms the existence of adrenergic and cholinergic axons which form preterminal and terminal varicosities along their course. The presence of adrenergic nerve fibers is confirmed with the use of 5 Hydroxydopamine, a 'false' sympathetic transmitter useful as a specific marker for adrenergic nerve terminals. Both types of axons are observed running in close relationship in the same nerve fiber and this suggests a possible interaction between adrenergic and cholinergic system in the ureter. Cholinergic nerve terminals are considered as sensory receptors. Rare neuromuscular junctions are observed in the ureteric musculature. Terminal nerve fibers do not innervate each muscle cell and chemical transmitters liberated from 'en passage' nerve varicosities may influence at distance several muscle cells in a muscle bundle. The muscle cells are interconnected to each other by close contacts represented by a nexus. This structure allows the transmission of the contraction from cell to cell. |
