A comparative HRP study of the neuronal supply to the inferior and superior nasal meatus in the cat.

Neurons supplying the nasal mucosa in the cat were retrogradely labelled with horseradish peroxidase. Sensory trigeminal neurons to the inferior and superior nasal meati are somatotopically organized, according to the ophthalmic or maxillary origin of the afferents studied. Whatever their relative location, the cell bodies from nasal afferents were, on average, smaller than the overall cell population in the ganglion, in keeping with the high proportion of nasal receptors innervated by thin fibers. Postganglionic neurons from parasympathetic origin could be labelled in the sphenopalatine ganglion. These neurons probably supply mucosal secretory glands. They are in the same size range as the bulk of neurons in the same ganglia.