Cutaneous distribution of sympathetic postganglionic fibers from stellate ganglion: A retrograde axonal tracing study using wheat germ agglutinin conjugated with horseradish peroxidase.

Sympathetic postganglionic cells of the stellate ganglion (SG) projecting to the skin in young dogs were labeled retrogradely with wheat germ agglutinin conjugated with horseradish peroxidase (WGA-HRP). After application of WGA-HRP into the dermis and/or subcutaneous tissue of the upper extremity, numerous labeled cells were observed in the SG. The sympathetic postganglionic fibers from the SG were distributed in the skin area between the third cervical vertebra and the level of the thirteenth rib. These fibers decreased in number toward the rostral and caudal skin area with a peak on the upper extremity. Sympathetic postganglionic cells in the SG projecting to these skin areas were found ipsilaterally to the injection side. No labeled cells were observed in the SG after injecting WGA-HRP into the epidermis and/or subcutaneous tissue of the face, the level of the second cervical vertebra, and the lower extremity.Sympathetic postganglionic neurons of the SG which project in the cervical and thoracic sympathetic trunks were labeled retrogradely with unconjugated horseradish peroxidase (HRP) applied to the cut end of the sympathetic trunks proximal to the SG. The application was made in the cervical sympathetic trunk (CST) caudal to the superior cervical ganglion (SCG). In the thoracic sympathetic trunk (TST), the application was made between the fourth and fifth thoracic sympathetic ganglia (T4 and T5), and between T10 and T11. Labeled cell bodies were observed in SG bilaterally.