The adrenergic and cholinergic innervation of the chicken vas deferens

Abstract

The morphological characteristics of adrenergic and cholinergic innervation are described in the vas deferens of the domestic fowl. Adrenergic innervation was much better developed than the cholinergic. Both types of nerve fibre were found in the muscular membrane, submucosal membrane and in the mucosa. The largest number of adrenergic nerve fibres was observed in the muscular membrane. These were less numerous in the submucosa, mucosa and in the wall of small blood vessels. The largest number of cholinergic nerve fibres was noted under the mucosa. Single cholinergic nerve fibres were seen to penetrate between the epithelial cells.