Number, size and distribution of ganglion neurons in urinary bladder of rodents

Abstract

Whole-mount preparations of urinary bladders stained with a modified Giemsa technique were obtained from three rodent species (Guinea-pig, Calomys callosus and the C57/BLJ isogenic mouse) to identify and estimate the relative number and size of ganglionic neurons within the wall of the organ. The distribution of the ganglia was not uniform among the three species: ganglia were concentrated around the ureteral orifices in the Guinea-pig, they were scattered throughout the organ in Calomys callosus, and they were concentrated near the internal urethral orifice in the C57/BLJ mouse. In the Guinea-pig, the size of approximately 50% of the neurons lie in the range of 200 to 300 microns2. In Calomys callosus, 40% of the neurons lie in the range of 200 to 250 microns2, with 28% in the range of 50 to 100 microns2. For the C57/BLJ mouse, approximately 60% of the neurons have an area of 250 to 400 microns2.