Ultrastructure of intramural ganglia in the striated muscle portions of the guinea pig oesophagus

Abstract

The ultrastructure of the myenteric plexus located in the striated muscle portion of the guinea pig oesophagus was examined and compared with that of the plexus associated with the smooth muscle portion of the rest of the digestive tract. The oesophageal ganglia had essentially the same architecture as those of the smooth muscle portion, such as a compact neuropil without the intervention of connective tissue and blood vessels. Some features, however, were particular to the striated muscle part of the oesophagus. It was clearly demonstrated that myelinated fibres, probably sensory terminals of vagal origin, join the myenteric ganglia. Synapses and terminal varicosities are sparsely distributed within the ganglia and fewer morphological types of axon varicosities could be distinguished compared with other regions. Glial cells are well developed in the oesophageal myenteric ganglia. These cells outnumber the ganglion cells, having a higher ratio than in the lower digestive tract, and form numerous cytoplasmic lamellar processes. The lamellar processes, located at the surface of the ganglia, considerably reduce the area of neuronal membrane which directly contacts the basal lamina. The role of these lamellar processes in the oesophageal ganglia is discussed.