Innervation of amphibian reproductive system. Histological and ultrastructural study

CISINT SUSANA ; CRESPO CLAUDIA A; MEDINA MARCELA F; IRUZUBIETA VILLAGRA LUCRECIA; FERNÁNDEZ SILVIA N; RAMOS INÉS

AUTONOMIC NEUROSCIENCE.

ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2014 vol. 185 p. 51 - 58

1566-0702

In the present study we describe for the first time in anuran amphibians the histological and ultrastructural characteristics of innervation in the female reproductive organs. The observations in Rhinella arenarum revealed the presence of nerve fibers located predominantly in the ovarian hilium as well as in the oviduct wall. In both organs the nerves fibers are placed near blood vessels and smooth muscles fibers. Positive inmunomarking using neuronal markers (antiperipherin and antineurofilament 200) verified the histological observations. The ultrastructural analyses demonstrated that the innervation of the reproductive organs is constituted by unmyelinated nerve fibers surrounded by Schwann cells. Neurofilaments, mitochondria and electron lucid vesicles were observed in the axolema. The axon terminals contain a population of small, clear, translucid vesicles that coexist with a few dense cored vesicles. The ultrastructural characteristics of the nerve fibers and the synaptic vesicles present in the axon terminal would allow us to suggest that the reproductive organs of Rhinella arenarum females are probably innervated by autonomic nerves.