CHANGES PRODUCED IN THE SUPERIOR CERVICAL AND CAELIAC SYMPATHETIC GANGLIA BY IRRITATION OF THE LIP IN GUINEA PIGS

Abstract

1) In guinea pig, the lip was irritated with repeated injection of croton oil for various length, of time, and the changes produced in the lip, superior cervical and caeliac sympathetic ganglia, and various organs were investigated histopathologically, 2) In the first group of animals to which croton oil was injected for a short period of time, . only edema of the lip was observed, whereas in the second group to which injection was repeated for longer period, necrosis and/or cicatrix formation were remarkable.3) The sympathetic ganglia showed little change in the animals of the first group, while in the, second group they showed degenerative changes mainly consisting of atrophy and swelling of the cells, . vacuolization or destruction of the cytoplasma, chromatolysis, swelling, atrophy, deformation and dest-ruction of nuclei. The longer the lip was exposed to the irritation the higher was the degree of the changes. Changes in the superior cervical and caeliac sympathetic ganglia were similar to each. other.4) In various organs changes due to circulatory disturbance such as congestion and hemorrhage as-well as various degenerative changes were observed. These changes were more pronounced in group I..5) On the basis of these findings, the author explained the shock symptoms produced by irri-tation of the lip as a manifestation of Reilly's phenomena, and offered a postulation that the irritation to the lip was transmitted to the autonomic nervous system of the entire body through the superior cervical ganglion working as one of the mediators of the stimulus transmission.6) Further more, the cause of novocain shock was discussed clinically from the viewpoint of Reilly's theory.