Peribronchial Microparaganglia

In human airway intrinsic ganglia, the number of NOS-containing neuronal cell bodies increased from 57 % in the trachea up to 83 % in small bronchi (Fischer and Hoffmann 1996). Around these perikarya, many nerve fibres displaying VlP-immu-noreactivity or substance P-immunoreactivity were found. 

Electron microscopically, paragangUonic cells, enveloping sustentacular cells, and synaptic connections with unmyelinated axons are seen in peribronchial microparaganglia (Bock 1970). 

In the lungs of the salamanders, Cynops pyrrho-gaster and Ambystoma mexicanum, Adriaensen et al. (1993) described NOS-like immunoreactivity in dispersed nerve cells in a plexus composed of thick nerve bundles and in a delicate nerve netwerk made up of fine varicose nerve fibres. There was evidence that at least part of these varicose fibres originated from NOS-containing nerve cells in intrapulmonary ganglia. 

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Neuronal Nitric Oxide Synthase in Peribronchial Microparaganglia... 

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