TWO TYPES OF CELLS SHOWING DIFFERENT CATECHOLAMINE FLUORESCENCES IN SYMPATHETIC GANGLIA OF THE BULLFROG

Abstract

The formaldehyde induced fluorescence microscopy was applied to bullfrog sympathetic ganglia in order to clarify the cellular localization of catecholamines. The distinctly different two types of cells (small cells showing an extremely bright yellow fluorescence and ordinary ganglion cells showing a green to yellow-green fluorescence) were observed in sections of sympathetic ganglia treated with formaldehyde vapour of 75% humidity equilibration at 80°C for 1 hour. Small cells often formed clusters of several cells, and were located near blood vessels. Treatment with formaldehye vapour of 90% humidity equilibration for 2 hours at 80°C caused diffusion of the fluorescent material in two different cell types. An extremely bright yellow fluorescence was found to be intensified when treated with optimum formaldehyde vapour either at 80°C for 15 min or 50°C for 30 min, whereas a green to yellow-green fluorescence was most intense under the condition of formaldehyde vapour at 80°C for 3 hours.Thus, it may be concluded that the small cell cluster contains a primary catecholamine (dopamine or noradrenaline) and that the ganglion cell contains mainly a secondary catecholamine (adrenaline).