The ovarian innervation in the dog: a preliminary study for the base for electro-acupuncture

The origin of the canine ovarian sensory and sympathetic nerves was studied by applying horseradish peroxidase (HRP) or wheat germ agglutinin conjugated to HRP (WGA-HRP) to the ovarian stroma and into the ovarian bursa. HRP/WGA-HRP positive neurons were found bilaterally in the dorsal root ganglia of T10 to L4 segment with the majority located in T13 to L2. In sympathetic paravertebral ganglia, labeled neurons were distributed bilaterally in ganglia from T11 to L4 with the majorities located in segments T13 to L2. Both distributions show ipsilateral predominance. Labeled prevertebral neurons were mainly located in the aorticorenal ganglion, ovarian ganglia and caudal mesenteric ganglion. No labeled neurons were found in the dorsal motor nucleus of vagus, nodose ganglia or sacral segment from S1 to S3. This study provides the possible morphological basis of electro-acupuncture concerning the somato-visceral reflex of the ovary.