Morphological Correlate to a Cholinergic Sympathetic Function

THE sympathetic ganglion cells in the cat are heterogeneous with respect to acetylcholinesterase (AcChE) activity when stained histochemically with the thiocholine method1,2. Only a limited number possess high AcChE activity (heavy staining) comparable with that of anterior horn cells and other accepted cholinergic cells. The majority of the sympathetic ganglion cells show very faint or no activity. Some cells are intermediate with respect to staining intensity. There has been recent discussion whether the outstandingly ‘AcChE-rich’ cells are correlated to a peripheral cholinergic function1–3; but definite proof for such a hypothesis has been lacking until now. In an earlier paper2 it was shown that the stellate ganglion is especially rich in cells with high AcChE-activity compared with the superior cervical ganglion and the prevertebral ganglia. This communication explains that finding.