GALANIN IMMUNOREACTIVITY IN THE MUDPUPPY CARDIAC GANGLION

The source of galanin-immunoreactive fibers in the cardiac ganglion and on cardiac muscle in mudpuppy (Necturus maculosus) has been determined utilizing immunohistochemical techniques. The galanin-immunoreactive fibers are not processes of afferent fibers originating in either the rostral four dorsal root ganglia or vagal sensory ganglia. Following colchicine treatment, all of the postganglionic parasympathetic neurons and a subpopulation of the small intrinsic neurons in the cardiac ganglion exhibit galanin immunoreactivity. The majority of the galanin-immunoreactive fibers that form complexes on the parasympathetic postganglionic neurons are derived from galanin-immunoreactive small intrinsic neurons, although some of these connections may represent collateral processes from other parasympathetic postganglionic neurons. All of the galanin-immunoreactive processes that innervate cardiac muscle are derived from postganglionic parasympathetic neurons in the cardiac ganglion.