The incidence of mastocytes in paraganglia
Kraus, R.; Bezdícek, P.
Folia Morphologica 36(2): 211-213
1988
ISSN/ISBN: 0015-5640 PMID: 3410390 Document Number: 312197
In adrenal medulla, carotid and aorticopulmonary bodies, the authors describe various developmental stages of mastocytes which, especially in the presence of elevated exocytosis of catecholamines, display signs of high micropinocytotic activity and storage of osmiophilic material in smooth-walled vesicles or tubules. The size and submicroscopic appearance of these structures concur with the appearance of the specific granules of the paraganglionic cells. In every case the MC are in striking direct contact with secretory cells and terminal nerve fibres. From the aspect of the cited conception of the MC as a special type of dendritic paraneuron, it can be assumed that they play an active part in the neuroendocrine function of paraganglia.