Verna A, Roumy M, Leitner L M
J Neurocytol. 1981 Aug;10(4):659-70. doi: 10.1007/BF01262595.
We have studied the ultrastructure and physiological properties of the rabbit carotid body superfused in vitro. After 3 h superfusion, the ultrastructural features of the carotid body cells, nerve fibres and nerve endings are similar to those observed after in vivo perfusion with fixative. After 5 h superfusion, the fluorescence of type I cells and sympathetic post-ganglionic nerve fibres appears normal, as demonstrated by the Falck method. After 6 h superfusion, some type I cells are characterized by a highly vacuolated cytoplasm whereas most of the nerve fibres and nerve endings still show a normal ultrastructure. Damaged cells are not more abundant in the centre of the organ than in the surface layer. Recordings from chemoafferent units demonstrate the possibility of superfusing the carotid body with an air-equilibrated medium without any noticeable excitation. Large and reproducible responses to hyperoxic and hypoxic superfusions are recorded. It is concluded that the in vitro superfused rabbit carotid body is a reliable and useful preparation for studying the mechanism of chemoreceptor excitation.
我们研究了体外灌流的家兔颈动脉体的超微结构和生理特性。灌流3小时后，颈动脉体细胞、神经纤维和神经末梢的超微结构特征与体内用固定剂灌注后观察到的相似。用福尔克法证明，灌流5小时后，I型细胞和交感神经节后神经纤维的荧光看起来正常。灌流6小时后，一些I型细胞的特点是细胞质高度空泡化，而大多数神经纤维和神经末梢仍显示正常的超微结构。受损细胞在器官中心并不比表层更丰富。化学传入单位的记录表明，用空气平衡的介质灌流颈动脉体而不产生任何明显兴奋是可能的。记录到了对高氧和低氧灌流的大的且可重复的反应。得出的结论是，体外灌流的家兔颈动脉体是研究化学感受器兴奋机制的一种可靠且有用的标本。
