Sensory innervation of the Achilles tendon by group III and IV afferent fibers

Abstract

In sympathectomized cats the innervation of the Achilles tendon by fine afferent nerve fibers was studied with semithin and ultrathin sections. Several different types of sensory endings of group III and group IV nerve fibers were identified. Of the five different types of endings in the group III range (T III endings), two are located within vessel walls. One of them ends in the circumference of the venous vessels (T III/VV). Its lanceolate terminals have characteristic receptor areas at their edges. The second type ends in the adventitia of lymphatic vessels (T III/LV). Its receptive areas are scattered along their terminal course. Two further group III endings ramify within the connective tissue compartments of the vessel-nerve-fascicles of the peritenonium externum and internum. One type is tightly surrounded by collagen fibrils (T III/PTic); the other terminates between the collagen fiber bundles (T III/PTgc). The latter arrangement recalls the ultrastructural relation between nerve terminals and collagen tissue in Golgi tendon organs. The fifth type innervates the endoneural connective tissue of small nerve fiber bundles (T III/EN). At least some of them come into close contact with bundles of collagen fibers which penetrate the perineural sheath to terminate within the endoneurium. The endings of group IV afferents (T IV endings) show a striking topographic relationship to the blood and lymphatic vessels of all connective tissue compartments of the Achilles tendon. They form penicillate endings which may contain granulated vesicles. In any event, they can easily be discriminated from the T III endings in the vessel walls. In close neighborhood to Remak bundles, a cell has been regularly found which fulfilled all ultrastructural criteria for mast cells. But this cell is not a mast cell proper because it is surrounded by a basal lamina (pseudo mast cell).