A quantitative comparison of the formation of synapses in the rat superior cervical sympathetic ganglion by its own and by foreign nerve fibres.

The rat superior cervical sympathetic ganglion (SCG) has about 36,000 neurones in a volume of about 1 cu.mm. There are about 8.8 X 10(6) synapses, and 6000-9000 preganglionic axons. Section of the preganglionic chain causes a loss of 93% of the synapses. In the denervated SCG there are 0.6 X 10(6) remaining ('intrinsic') synapses, and a proportion of the synaptic sites are identifiable as vacated synaptic thickenings (3 X 10(6) per SCG, as compared with 0.5 X 10(6) in the normal intact SCG). After deducting the intrinsic synapses, this indicates that each preganglionic axon forms about 1100 (900-1400) synapses. After freezing the preganglionic chain, subsequent axonal regeneration restores synapse numbers to 85% of normal (7.5 X 10(6) synapses per SCG). After anastomotic repair by suture of the cut ends of the preganglionic chain (a necessary control for the foreign nerve anastomoses), the SCG contains only 60% of the normal complement of synapses (5.2 X 10(6) synapses per SCG). The results of this anastomosis are very variable. However, in individual ganglia the numbers of synapses are directly correlated with the numbers of axons which reach the SCG. After deducting the intrinsic synapses it can be calculated that each axon forms about 700 synapses. This is probably an underestimation of the numbers which would be achieved at longer survival times. After anastomosis of the vagal nerve into the denervated SCG there are about 4.4 X 10(6) synapses per SCG. Morphologically the majority have axon terminals with large dense cored vesicles, and it is likely that these belong to the axons of the parasympathetic preganglionic neurones in the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus. A smaller population of axon terminals are devoid of large dense cored vesicles; their origin is unknown. The dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus has between 1000 and 2000 neurones. After deducting the intrinsic synapses, this indicates that each axon may form up to 1900-3800 synapses. To the extent that other, unidentified vagal fibres also contribute to the synapses found after this anastomosis, this figure is an overestimate. After anastomosis of the hypoglossal nerve into the denervated SCG, there are 1.5 X 10(6) synapses per SCG. A morphologically distinctive type of axon terminal is found, and it is argued that this may belong to a special category of skeletomotor neurones located in the caudoventral part of the hypoglossal nucleus and distinguished by pseudocholinesterase staining. There are about 600 of these neurones, which would indicate that they form about 1500 synapses per axon (after deducting the numbers of intrinsic synapses). The majority of the hypoglossal neurones do not form intraganglionic synapses; this suggests that although the possession of a cholinergic mechanism may be necessary for axons to be able to form ganglionic synapses, it is not in itself sufficient. For each of the types of anastomosis, the numbers of vacated thickenings are inversely proportional to the numbers of synapses...