[Effects of reserpine on the granule-containing cells in the paracervical ganglion (Frankenhäuser) in mice: electron microscopic observations (author's transl)].

Effect of reserpine on granule-containing cells in the paracervical ganglion was electron microscopically studied. Adult mice were injected intraperitoneally with 3.5 mg of reserpine per kg of body weight daily for three days, and the fine structure of the granule-containing cells was observed by electron microscopy 24 hours after the last injection. In normal mice, as reported in a previous paper, the granule-contaning cells in the ganglion are morphologically classified into three types. Type I cells contain granular vesicles, which, varying in size and shape, 80 to 400 nm in diameter, are distributed through the cytoplasm. Type II cells have relatively small granular vesicles, 80 to 150 nm in diameter, which are distributed throughout the cytoplasm. Type III cells have small granular vesicles, 80 to 150 nm in diameter, in the peripheral zone of the cytoplasm. The proportions of type I, II, and III cells are 82%, 11%, 7%, respectively. After injections of reserpine, the proportions of type I, II, and III cells are 16%, 50%, and 33%, respectively. The findings were discussed in relation to the functional significance of granule-containing cells in the paracervical ganglion.