Main description:

Our knowledge of chromaffin tissue has increased enormously since the last comprehensive treatise in this series was published in 1943, chiefly as a result of the development of new histological methods and technical improve- ments. Less than 40 years have passed since the review by MAX WATZKA, and essentially only 25 years were required to accumulate an abundance of revolu- tionizing findings: it was not until 1957 that the carotid body was first studied successfully with the electron microscope. In 1962 the technique of formalde- hyde-induced fluorescence was introduced, yielding a view of adrenergic struc- tures that was completely new and far better than that obtained with the chro- maffin reaction. Immunohistochemistry made it possible to localize enzymes responsible for catecholamine synthesis and to detect peptide hormones. Autora- diographic techniques were used at the level of the electron microscope, the method of chemical sympathectomy was introduced and still other technical improvements could be mentioned.
I myself have been interested in chromaffin cells and sympathetic neurons since 1965, when I entered the Department of Histology, University of Vienna, as a medical student. Therefore I have not followed the developments mentioned above retrospectively, but have actually experienced them. Anyone who experi- ences such a development comes to believe that he is well acquainted with the various results and interpretations and is thus capable of objectivity.

Contents:

A. Introduction.- I. Alfred Kohn and the Concept of Paraganglionic Cells and Tissues.- II. Max Watzka's Review on Paraganglia.- III. Notes on Terminology.- IV. Paraganglia and the APUD Cell Concept.- V. Paraganglia and the Concept of Paraneurons.- B. Morphological and Histochemical Methods for the Study of Paraganglionic Cells.- I. Fine Structural Morphology and Electron Microscopic Cytochemistry of Catecholamines.- 1. Primary Fixation with Metal Salts.- 2. Primary Fixation with Aldehydes.- a) Glutaraldehyde/Dichromate.- b) Glutaraldehyde/Osmium Tetroxide.- 3. Uranaffin Reaction.- 4. Staining of Ultrathin Sections.- a) Lead Citrate.- b) Argentaffin Reaction.- II. Light Microscopic Methods for the Study of Paraganglionic Cells.- 1. Chromaffin Reaction.- 2. Argentaffin Reaction.- 3. Iodate Oxidation.- 4. Schmorl's Ferric Ferricyanide Reaction.- 5. Other Staining Methods.- 6. Fluorescence Methods.- a) Fixation in Aqueous Solutions.- b) Freeze-Dried Tissue.- c) Combination with Other Methods.- III. Immunocytochemistry of Enzymes Involved in Catecholamine Synthesis.- IV. Staining Methods for Proteins.- 1. Lead Haematoxylin.- 2. Masked Metachromasia.- 3. Coriphosphine O.- V. Quinacrine Fluorescence.- C. General Morphology of Paraganglionic Cells and Tissues.- I. The Chromaffin (Paraganglionic) Cell.- 1. Terminology.- 2. Cytology.- a) Nucleus.- b) Perikaryon and Cell Organelles.- c) Cilia.- d) Morphology of the Specific Granules.- ?) Large Granules.- ?) Small (Cored) Vesicles.- e) Origin and Fate of Specific Granules.- f) Shape of Paraganglionic Cells.- g) Synaptic Connections of Paraganglionic Cells.- ?) Efferent Synapses.- ?) Afferent Synapses.- ?) Reciprocal Synapses.- ?) Inhibitory Synapses?.- ?) Special Axon Terminals.- h) Contact Regions Between Paraganglionic Cells.- i) Mitoses.- 3. Catecholamines in Paraganglionic Cells.- a) Chromaffin Reaction.- b) Argentaffin Reaction.- c) Fluorescence Histochemistry.- d) Enzymes Synthesizing Catecholamines.- e) Chemical Determinations.- 4. Adenine Nucleotides of Paraganglionic Cells.- 5. Composition of the Specific Granules.- II. Sustentacular Cells.- 1. Terminology.- 2. Cytology.- a) Nucleus.- b) Perikaryon and Cell Organelles.- c) Shape of Sustentacular Cells.- III. Composition of Paraganglionic Tissue.- 1. Basal Lamina.- 2. Vascularization.- a) Supplying Arteries.- b) Capillaries.- c) Venous Drainage.- d) Lymphatics.- 3. Connective Tissue.- 4. Relationship to the Perineurium of the Supporting Nerves.- 5. Distribution of Tracer Material.- IV. Histochemistry of Paraganglionic Tissue.- 1. Immunocytochemistry of Enzymes Synthesizing Catecholamines.- 2. Enzyme Histochemistry of Paraganglionic Tissue.- 3. Chemical Measurements of Enzyme Activities and O2 Consumption.- V. Autoradiographic Studies on Paraganglionic Cells.- 1. Distribution of Radioactivity Derived from Labelled Precursors of Biogenic Amines.- 2. Distribution of 3H-Leucine-Derived Radioactivity.- 3. Distribution of 3H-ATP-Derived Radioactivity.- 4. Distribution of 3H-Choline-Derived Radioactivity.- IV. Hormones in Paraganglionic Cells.- D. Description of Anatomically Defined Paraganglia.- I. Paraganglia in Man and Mammals.- 1. Distribution and General Considerations.- a) Distribution and Terminology.- b) Paraganglia as a System.- 2. Carotid Body.- a) Microscopic Anatomy.- b) Cytology.- c) Innervation of Chromaffin Cells.- d) The Carotid Body as Chemoreceptor.- e) Efferent Innervation.- f) Morphological and Biochemical Findings After Stimulation of the Chemoreceptor.- g) Secretions Other than Catecholamines in the Chromaffin Cells of the Carotid Body.- h) The Carotid Body of the Wobbler Mutant Mouse.- 3. Subclavian Bodies.- a) Microscopic Anatomy.- b) Cytology.- c) Subclavian Bodies as Chemoreceptors.- 4. Aorticopulmonary Bodies.- a) Microscopic Anatomy and Cytology.- b) Aorticopulmonary Bodies as Chemoreceptors.- 5. Tympanojugular Glomera.- a) Microscopic Anatomy and Cytology.- b) Functional Significance.- 6. Vagal (Intravagal) and Juxtavagal Paraganglia.- a) Microscopic Anatomy.- b) Cytology.- 7. Laryngeal Paraganglia.- 8. Zuckerkandl's Organ.- 9. Retroperitoneal Paraganglia.- 10. Paraganglia Related to Pelvic Viscera.- 11. Peribronchial Microparaganglia.- 12. Cardiac Paraganglia.- II. Development of Paraganglionic Tissue.- 1. Cytodifferentiation.- 2. Development of the Carotid Body.- 3. Development of Subclavian Bodies.- 4. Development of Aorticopulmonary Bodies.- 5. Development of Tympanojugular Glomera.- 6. Development of Vagal Paraganglia.- 7. Development of Retroperitoneal Paraganglia.- III. Postnatal Fate of Extra-Adrenal Paraganglionic Tissue.- IV. Comparative Anatomy of Paraganglia in Non-Mammalian Vertebrates.- 1. Cyclostomes and Fish.- 2. Amphibians.- 3. Reptiles.- 4. Birds.- 5. Small Granule-Containing Cells (SGC Cells) in the Mammalian Adrenomedullary Tissue.- E. Paraganglionic Cells in Sympathetic Ganglia (SIF Cells, SGC Cells).- I. Introduction.- II. Morphology.- III. Functional Considerations.- F. Paraganglionic Cells Under Experimental Conditions.- I. Tissue Culture.- 1. Methods and Control Preparations.- 2. Effects of Corticosteroids and Drugs on Cultured SIF Cells.- 3. Effect of Varying Concentrations of Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide on Cultured Chromaffin Cells of the Carotid Body.- II. Transplantation of Paraganglionic Cells.- IV. In Vivo Effects of Hormones and Drugs.- 1. Corticosteroids.- a) SIF Cells (SGC Cells).- b) Paraganglia.- 2. Neurotoxins (False Transmitters).- a) SIF Cells (SGC Cells).- b) Paraganglia.- 3. Drugs Which Influence Catecholamine Turnover.- a) SIF Cells (SGC Cells).- b) Paraganglia.- 4. Stimulation of Secretion.- 5. Miscellaneous Compounds and Experimental Designs.- IV. Hypoxia.- G. Pathology.- Appendix 1: A. Kohn, 1867-1959 Life History and His Papers on Paraganglia.- Appendix 2: G. Muratori, 1909-1971 Life History and His Papers on Paraganglia.- References.- Author Index.