[Adrenergic terminal structures in mamalian mesentery]

The work is devoted to the study of adrenergic terminal structures in the mesentery of mammals by fluorescent microscopy of catecholamines. The system of adrenergic innervation of the mesentery proved to be based on well-developed perivascular plexuses. In many points of these plexuses individual adrenergic fibers penetrated the avascular mesenteric areas, where they formed preterminal and terminal portions as a result of repeated dichotomic divisions. These innervating structures built by the principle of widespread or restricted arborizations displayed morphological similarity to free sensory nerve endings. In this connection a possibility of distinction of the sensory (afferent) links in the catecholamine-containing vegetative nerve plexuses is discussed.