[An experimental study of sensory innervation of the ureter in the dog using wheat germ agglutinin-horseradish peroxidase conjugates]

Abstract

The sensory innervations of the ureter in the dog were studied using the anterograde and retrograde axonal transport of wheat germ agglutinin-horseradish peroxidase conjugates (WGA-HRP). Following upper ureteral injections, labeled cells were observed in the ipsilateral T7-L3 spinal ganglia to the injection site, with the greatest concentration at the T12-L2 levels. And labeled cells were seen in the contralateral T7--L3 spinal ganglia to the injection site with the greatest concentration at the T10 and L3 ganglia. Lower ureter injections resulted in the labeling of ipsilateral T11-Co1 and contralateral T9-Co1 spinal ganglia, with highest concentration at the ipsilateral L3 and S2 levels. Following thoracic and lumbar spinal ganglia T12, L1-L3 injections labeled fibers bundles were observed in the adventitia of the upper and lower ureter. Some labeled fibers were bifurcated from these bundles and passed through the two layers of the smooth muscles. In tunica submucosa and tunica propria mucosae, many labeled fibers were observed. A few labeled fibers were seen in the epithelium. After injections into the sacral and coccygeal spinal ganglia S1-Co1, labeled fibers were not observed in the upper ureter. Course and distribution of labeled fibers in the lower ureter were similar to those of the case in which injection was done into the thoracic and lumbar spinal ganglia.