Nonconventional innervation of the pancreatic islets of the teleost fish, Gillichthys mirabilis

Abstract

The innervation of the pancreatic islets of a teleost fish, Gillichthys mirabilis, was investigated with various techniques including axonal iontophoresis of cobalt, light microscopy, and electron microscopy. Two types of postganglionic neurons, the splanchnic and the vagus, innervate the islet parenchyma. The splanchnic fibers originate from the single coeliac ganglion, situated near the third spinal nerve on the right side, and pass caudally to the islet. Postganglionic vagal fibers reaching the islets arise from ganglion cells located at irregular intervals along the vagus nerve. Iontophoresis of cobaltous chloride revealed that both types of nerves send large numbers of fibers to the islet cells. Electron microscopy showed that the granules of the vagal fibers are polymorphic, large (130 mm diameter) and markedly electron dense, whereas the splanchnic granules are smaller (100 nm diameter) and less electron dense than those of the vagus. These granules do not correspond to those seen in postganglionic autonomic neurons of other vertebrates. Rather, they are more like classical neurosecretory granules. Although their chemical nature is unknown, the extent of islet innervation suggests that it must play an important regulatory role.