[Structure of the sensory neural apparatus of the common carotid artery in reptiles].

The nervous apparatus of the carotid arteries was studied in 43 steppe turtles on both sides. In 31 turtles the nerve elements in total preparations were stained with methylene blue, its 0,1--0,25% solution being injected into the jugular vein. Within 30 minutes after injection of the dye the common carotid arteries were taken from the body, cut longitudinally and fixed in 5% solution of ammonium molybdenate during 18-24 hours. In 12 turtles the sections of from 35 to 90 mu thick were impregnated with silver nitrate salts after Kajal -- Faworski and Bielschowski--Gross. The nervous apparatus of the common carotid artery from its basement to the site of division into external and internal branches is represented by a well-developed small-looped plexus of nerve fibres and sensory endings of different shape which form receptory fields. The afferent sensory terminations of the main type and simple reseptory bushes were found in the adventitia superficial layer of the common carotid artery. Complex receptory bushes with a great number of terminal buttons and plates were found in the profound layer of this artery adventitia, and especially in its muscular layer. Glomerular receptors were also found in the common carotid artery of the turtle. But they were detected much more rarely as compared with bushy endings.