The distribution of acetylcholinesterase and catecholamine containing nerves in the rat lung

Abstract

Abstract The distribution of catecholamine and acetylcholinesterase containing nerve fibers in the rat lung was studied employing specific histochemical techniques. Silver impregnation and methylene blue staining was used to allow comparison with the results of previous workers. Catecholamine containing nerve fibers were found associated with the nerve plexus about bronchial arteries and were carried to the bronchial wall and the pulmonary vessel wall along branches of the artery. Acetylcholinesterase containing fibers followed along the bronchi and bronchioles and were found in the adventitia, mucosa and submucosa, Acetylcholinesterase containing nerves were not found in the perivascular plexi with the exception of a few positive nerve fibers within the larger pulmonary veins.