Paravertebral origin of postganglionic sympathetic fibers in the major splanchnic and distal coeliac nerves as demonstrated by horseradish peroxidase (HRP) retrograde transport method.

A significant number of sympathetic neurons in the lower thoracic paravertebral ganglia (lateral chain ganglia) were retrogradely labeled when the central cut end of the ipsilateral major splanchnic nerve was exposed to horseradish peroxidase (HRP) in the cat. HRP-labeled perikarya were found in all ganglia of that region of the chain from which the splanchnic nerve has its origin but they are most numerous in the last thoracic paravertebral ganglion, that adjacent to the T13 segment of the cord. The number of HRP-positive cell diminished rapidly in more rostral ganglia. Labeled cell bodies of postganglionic splanchnic neurons in the paravertebral ganglia were fusiform to oval in shape with cell diameters averaging between 25 to 45 micrometer. These results demonstrate that the splanchnic nerve contains, in addition to visceral afferents and preganglionic sympathetic constituents, many postganglionic fibers with cell bodies in the paravertebral ganglia. These splanchnic postganglionic axons pass through the coeliac ganglion and continue into distal coeliac nerves.