Cytospecific properties of arterial chemosensory neurons.

The carotid body of the cat was reinnervated either by the carotid branch or by the glossal branch of the IXth nerve and evaluated histologically and neurophysiologically. Regenerating foreign fibers re-established 90% fewer specialized terminals on glomus cells and displayed a greatly diminished chemosensory response, compared to axons of the regenerating carotid branch. Regenerating sensory neurons appear to develop chemosensitivity as a consequence of contact with glomus cells.