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The otic ganglion and its control of the parotid gland

The otic ganglion and its control of the parotid gland
The otic ganglion and its control of the parotid gland

The precise localisation of the rat otic ganglion and its neural connections, particularly those related to salivation, have been established by means of dissection and from a study of histological sections taken serially through the head. The otic ganglion lies medial to the pterygopalatine branch of the internal carotid artery and beneath the trigeminal ganglion from which it is separated by the sphenoid bone. There is no direct connection between the glossopharyngeal nerve and the otic ganglion, as is the case in man. However, a neural connection between the facial nerve and the otic ganglion and a further connection linking the glossopharyngeal with the facial nerve through which the salivatory axons may pass to reach the otic ganglion is described. A comparison is made between the neural pathways involved in parotid secretion in the rat with those believed to exist in man. Electron microscopy was used to examine the preganglionic nerve terminals in the otic ganglion and the postganglionic nerve terminals in the parotid gland. The majority of nerve terminals observed were morphologically similar to the cholinergic terminals reported by other workers. Immunofluorescence, immunoperoxidase and immunogold techniques were used to look for the neuropeptides substance P (SP), vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) and calcitonin-gene-related peptide (CGRP) in both the postganglionic neuronal cell bodies in the otic ganglion and in the axonal terminals of the parotid gland. Both SP and VIP were found in neurones which were positive for acetylcholinesterase activity and which projected to the parotid gland. At the ultrastructural level SP and VIP were found to be colocalised in the same nerve terminals and the immunogold studies suggested that these two peptides may also be present in the same synaptic vesicles. The significance of these results is discussed.

University of Southampton
Al-Hadithi, Bara Ahmed Kamel
d37c2c6e-8b88-431a-b639-26ef6a08666d
Al-Hadithi, Bara Ahmed Kamel
d37c2c6e-8b88-431a-b639-26ef6a08666d

Al-Hadithi, Bara Ahmed Kamel (1988) The otic ganglion and its control of the parotid gland. University of Southampton, Doctoral Thesis.

Record type: Thesis (Doctoral)

Abstract

The precise localisation of the rat otic ganglion and its neural connections, particularly those related to salivation, have been established by means of dissection and from a study of histological sections taken serially through the head. The otic ganglion lies medial to the pterygopalatine branch of the internal carotid artery and beneath the trigeminal ganglion from which it is separated by the sphenoid bone. There is no direct connection between the glossopharyngeal nerve and the otic ganglion, as is the case in man. However, a neural connection between the facial nerve and the otic ganglion and a further connection linking the glossopharyngeal with the facial nerve through which the salivatory axons may pass to reach the otic ganglion is described. A comparison is made between the neural pathways involved in parotid secretion in the rat with those believed to exist in man. Electron microscopy was used to examine the preganglionic nerve terminals in the otic ganglion and the postganglionic nerve terminals in the parotid gland. The majority of nerve terminals observed were morphologically similar to the cholinergic terminals reported by other workers. Immunofluorescence, immunoperoxidase and immunogold techniques were used to look for the neuropeptides substance P (SP), vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) and calcitonin-gene-related peptide (CGRP) in both the postganglionic neuronal cell bodies in the otic ganglion and in the axonal terminals of the parotid gland. Both SP and VIP were found in neurones which were positive for acetylcholinesterase activity and which projected to the parotid gland. At the ultrastructural level SP and VIP were found to be colocalised in the same nerve terminals and the immunogold studies suggested that these two peptides may also be present in the same synaptic vesicles. The significance of these results is discussed.

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Published date: 1988

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Local EPrints ID: 461154
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/461154
PURE UUID: e06fddd1-914a-487c-acd9-c98ec6be530d

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Date deposited: 04 Jul 2022 18:37
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 18:44

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Author: Bara Ahmed Kamel Al-Hadithi

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