Scanning electron microscopic observations on the third ventricular floor of the rat following cervical sympathectomy

Various investigators have shown that unilateral ganglionectomy or transection of the internal and external carotid nerves leads to a regenerative response in the ipsilateral superior cervical ganglion and to uninjured mature sympathetic neurons sprouting into bilaterally innervated shared target organs. In this study changes in the supraependymal neuronal network following unilateral and bilateral cervical sympathectomy on the infundibular floor of the third ventricle were studied by scanning electron microscopy in comparison with normal and sham-operated control animals. After unilateral cervical sympathectomy there was a great increase in the number of varicose nerve fibres on the infundibular floor as compared to the normal and sham-operated control animals. Not only was there an increase in the number of nerve fibres, but also their varicosities were substantially larger than those normally present on the ependymal surface. This study indicates the possible sympathetic projections from the superior cervical ganglia to the ependymal surface of the third cerebral ventricle.