Abstract
The terminations of nerves in the vas deferens of the stallion and bull, including the ampulla ductus deferentis of the stallion, were investigated histologically by a modification of the BIELSCHOWSKY silver impregnation method. Besides, the same problem was studied by the CHAMPY-MAILLET osmium tetroxide-zinc iodide technique and a modification of the cholinesterase technique of KoELLE and FRIEDENWALD in the rat vas deferens. The following results were dbtained. 1) Branching off from the plexus ductus deferentialis in the adventitia, nerve bundles are distributed to the smooth muscle layers and mucous membrane. Large nerve bundles enter the muscle layers, and either ramify into several branches or give off single branches at intervals. The branches pass into the autonomic terminal plexus with SCHWANN cell nuclei. Their terminal axons run among smooth muscle cells. 2) A sensory terminal formation was found near the outer muscle layer in the adventitia of the vas deferens of a stallion. 3) In all the species examined, a subepithelial nerve plexus is present in the tunica propria. Especially in the rat, subepithelial and submucosal plexuses are recognized. These nerve plexuses show high specific acetylcholinesterase activity. 4) Many large nerve bundles enter the glandular portion of the ampulla. In the tunica propria, many autonomic terminal strands are observed. They seem to be distributed to smooth muscle cells scattered. Besides, the possible presence of sensory nerve fibers was suggested.
