The Autonomic Nervous System of the Chimaeroid Fish Hydrolagus colliei

Abstract

ABSTRACT The autonomic nervous system of the chimaeroid fish Hydrolagus colliei has been investigated by dissections and histological methods. It consists of a cranial parasympathetic portion and a sympathetic portion confined to the trunk. The latter extends from the level of the heart to the anus and consists of segmentally arranged ganglia on each side of the dorsal aorta. These ganglia are closely associated with small accumulations of suprarenal tissue. Two axillary bodies are the largest of the sympathetic and suprarenal structures. They lie about the subclavian arteries and are made up of a gastric ganglion and a relatively large mass of chromaffin tissue. The sympathetic ganglia lie in an irregular plexus of longitudinal and crossing sympathetic strands but there is no regular sympathetic chain or commissure between ganglia. There are white rami communicantes which connect the sympathetic ganglia with spinal nerves. A small pregastric ganglion lies on the rami communicantes to the gastric ganglion. The visceral nerves arising from the sympathetic ganglia proceed to blood-vessels, genital ducts, chromaffin tissue, and gut. The latter is supplied by large splanchnic nerves which originate in the gastric ganglia and proceed along the coeliac axis to the intestine, pancreas, and liver. Prevertebral ganglia are absent. A mucosal and a submucosal plexus are present in the intestine. The cranial component of the autonomic system comprises a midbrain and a hindbrain outflow. In the former there is a ciliary ganglion on the inferior oblique branch of the oculomotor nerve. Short ciliary nerves proceed from this branch to the eyeball. A radix longa is absent. Sensory fibres go directly to the eyeball from the profundus nerve as anterior and posterior long ciliary nerves. The hindbrain outflow comprises scattered nerve-cells and ganglia on post-trematic branches of the glossopharyngeal and vagus nerves. These autonomic fibres in the branchial nerves innervate smooth muscle in the pharyngeal region. A visceral branch of the vagus innervates the heart, oesophagus, and intestine; it also establishes a connexion with the pregastric ganglion. In general, the autonomic nervous system of Hydrolagus is very similar to that of selachians. It appears that the autonomic systems of these two groups have undergone little alteration since their origin in the Palaeozoic from some common form. Their autonomic systems reflect a simple and primitive level of organization from which more complex systems of the bony fishes and amphibians have evolved.