An ultrastructural and fluorescence histochemical investigation of the innervation of retial arteries in Monodon monoceros [Narwhal]

In this study, the innervation of cerebrally related retial arteries in the narwhal Monodon monoceros was examined. Vessels were processed for the demonstration of adrenergic nerve endings by fluorescence histochemistry, and the results were confirmed by electron microscopy. Innervation of cerebrally related retial arteries was compared to that of a system situated in the haemal canal and supplying the tail. The retial arteries were poorly innervated. Adrenergic nerve endings, as indicated by fluorescence, occurred only in caudal portions of the spinal rete. Ultrastructurally, nerves were found in most retial vessels examined. However, except for arteries from caudal portions of the spinal rete, nerve numbers were few and because they occurred in outer layers of the adventitia were probably not functionally significant. In contrast, vessels in the haemal canal were well innervated. Nerve endings possessing neurotransmitter vesicles were adjacent to the smooth muscle cells. The cetacean rete mirabile, a system which supplies blood to the entire central nervous system, is apparently not under extensive nervous control, even though most reports suggest there is a relationship, possibly based on the presence of adjacent nerve trunks. Any vasomotor activity that does occur, possibly does so in response to catecholamines or other vasoactive agents circulating in the blood.