Immuno-electron microscopic identification of somatostatin in cells and axons of sympathetic ganglia in the guinea pig.

The superior cervical ganglia (SCG), celiac superior mesenteric ganglia (CMG), and splanchnic nerve of unoperated guinea pigs, as well as both proximal and distal stumps of a previously transected branch of the postganglionic plexus of the CMG, were immunostained for somatostatin (SS). In addition, the PAP technique was adapted for fine-structural visualization of SS. A greater proportion of cells were labeled for SS in the CMG than in the SCG. PAP molecules were present in one type of intraganglionic axons. Only two labeled axons were found in the splanchnic nerve. Neither proximal nor the distal stump of the transected CMG postganglionic nerve contained labeled axons. The present results support the hypothesis that the intraganglionic axons labeled for SS arise from SS-containing intraganglionic neurons.