Structural Organization of the Neuronal Pathways of the Superior Ovarian Nerve in the Rat

Overview

Journal J Ovarian Res

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialties Gynecology & Obstetrics
Reproductive Medicine

Date 2023 Jan 28

PMID 36707870

Authors

Cesar F Pastelin

Maria E Rivera-Castro

Nancy Mirto-Aguilar

Carolina Moran

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: In the rat, studies have shown that ovary innervation arrives via the superior ovarian nerve (SON) and the ovarian plexus nerve, which originates from the celiac plexus (CP). In the present study, we performed a neuroanatomical technique to investigate the anatomy of the SON between the ovary and the CP.

Results: We found that the SON fibers were concentrated on the lateral border of the suprarenal ganglion and projected towards, then inserted into the suspensory ligament. Then, it ran parallel to the long axis of the ligament to reach and innervate the ovaries. At this level, the SON was composed of two coiled nerve fibers, each between 10 and 15 µm in diameter. The SON was linked to three different ganglia: the suprarenal ganglia, the celiac ganglia, and the superior mesenteric ganglion.

Conclusions: The postganglionic fibers that project to the ovary via the SON emerge from the suprarenal ganglia. The trajectories on the right and left sides to each ovary are similar. The somas of ipsilateral and contralateral SON neurons are located in the prevertebral ganglia, mostly in the celiac ganglia.

Citing Articles

Metabolic control of ovarian function through the sympathetic nervous system: role of leptin.

Astudillo-Guerrero C, Paredes A, Escobar J, Fernandois D, Barra R, Cruz G Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2025; 15:1484939.

PMID: 39963180 PMC: 11830616. DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2024.1484939.

The role of the autonomic nervous system in polycystic ovary syndrome.

Yu Y, Chen T, Zheng Z, Jia F, Liao Y, Ren Y Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2024; 14:1295061.

PMID: 38313837 PMC: 10834786. DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1295061.

Organization of the Subdiaphragmatic Vagus Nerve and Its Connection with the Celiac Plexus and the Ovaries in the Female Rat.

Rivera-Castro M, Pastelin C, Bravo-Benitez J, Moran C Brain Sci. 2023; 13(7).

PMID: 37508964 PMC: 10377505. DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13071032.

References

Pastelin C, Rosas N, Morales-Ledesma L, Linares R, Dominguez R, Moran C . Anatomical organization and neural pathways of the ovarian plexus nerve in rats. J Ovarian Res. 2017; 10(1):18. PMC: 5351206. DOI: 10.1186/s13048-017-0311-x. View

Berthoud H, Powley T . Interaction between parasympathetic and sympathetic nerves in prevertebral ganglia: morphological evidence for vagal efferent innervation of ganglion cells in the rat. Microsc Res Tech. 1996; 35(1):80-6. DOI: 10.1002/(SICI)1097-0029(19960901)35:1<80::AID-JEMT7>3.0.CO;2-W. View

Lawrence Jr I, Burden H . The origin of the extrinsic adrenergic innervation to the rat ovary. Anat Rec. 1980; 196(1):51-9. DOI: 10.1002/ar.1091960106. View

GIBSON W, Roche P, Summers R, Wylie S . Time course of sympathetic denervation of the rat ovary after freezing its nerve supply. J Reprod Fertil. 1984; 72(2):429-33. DOI: 10.1530/jrf.0.0720429. View

van der Schoot P, Emmen J . Development, structure and function of the cranial suspensory ligaments of the mammalian gonads in a cross-species perspective; their possible role in effecting disturbed testicular descent. Hum Reprod Update. 1996; 2(5):399-418. DOI: 10.1093/humupd/2.5.399. View

Burden H . Adrenergic innervation in ovaries of the rat and guinea pig. Am J Anat. 1972; 133(4):455-61. DOI: 10.1002/aja.1001330407. View

McNEILL D, Burden H . Neuropeptide Y and somatostatin immunoreactive perikarya in preaortic ganglia projecting to the rat ovary. J Reprod Fertil. 1986; 78(2):727-32. DOI: 10.1530/jrf.0.0780727. View

Gerendai I, Kocsis K, Halasz B . Supraspinal connections of the ovary: structural and functional aspects. Microsc Res Tech. 2002; 59(6):474-83. DOI: 10.1002/jemt.10225. View

Moran C, Franco A, Moran J, Handal A, Morales L, Dominguez R . Neural activity between ovaries and the prevertebral celiac-superior mesenteric ganglia varies during the estrous cycle of the rat. Endocrine. 2005; 26(2):147-52. DOI: 10.1385/ENDO:26:2:147. View

10.

Agrawal R, Kakkar N, Vasishta R, Kumari V, Samujh R, Rao K . Acetylcholinesterase histochemistry (AChE)--A helpful technique in the diagnosis and in aiding the operative procedures of Hirschsprung disease. Diagn Pathol. 2015; 10:208. PMC: 4668621. DOI: 10.1186/s13000-015-0443-5. View

11.

Linares R, Acuna X, Rosas G, Vieyra E, Ramirez D, Chaparro A . Participation of the Cholinergic System in the Development of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. Molecules. 2021; 26(18). PMC: 8471679. DOI: 10.3390/molecules26185506. View

12.

Mayerhofer A, Fritz S . Ovarian acetylcholine and muscarinic receptors: hints of a novel intrinsic ovarian regulatory system. Microsc Res Tech. 2002; 59(6):503-8. DOI: 10.1002/jemt.10228. View

13.

Klein C, Burden H . Anatomical localization of afferent and postganglionic sympathetic neurons innervating the rat ovary. Neurosci Lett. 1988; 85(2):217-22. DOI: 10.1016/0304-3940(88)90354-0. View

14.

Morales-Ledesma L, Vieyra E, Ramirez D, Trujillo A, Chavira R, Cardenas M . Effects on steroid hormones secretion resulting from the acute stimulation of sectioning the superior ovarian nerve to pre-pubertal rats. Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 2012; 10:88. PMC: 3520866. DOI: 10.1186/1477-7827-10-88. View

15.

Klein C, Ray R, Burden H . Direct electrical stimulation of the superior ovarian nerve in rats causes an increase in neuronal activity in the ipsilateral ovarian plexus nerve. Brain Res. 1989; 479(1):194-200. DOI: 10.1016/0006-8993(89)91353-x. View

16.

Sosa Z, Casais M, Rastrilla A, Aguado L . Adrenergic influences on coeliac ganglion affect the release of progesterone from cycling ovaries: characterisation of an in vitro system. J Endocrinol. 2000; 166(2):307-18. DOI: 10.1677/joe.0.1660307. View

17.

Kassim N, Russell D, Payne A . Does the cranial suspensory ligament have a role in cryptorchidism?. Cells Tissues Organs. 2009; 191(4):307-15. DOI: 10.1159/000260062. View

18.

GUGLIELMONE R, Vercelli A . The costo-uterine muscle of the rat. Fluorescence-histochemical and electron microscope studies during growth, pregnancy and oestrogen-treatment. Anat Embryol (Berl). 1991; 184(4):337-43. DOI: 10.1007/BF00957895. View

19.

Hartley M, PENNEFATHER J . The costo-uterine muscle of the rat contains a homogeneous population of beta-adrenoceptors. Br J Pharmacol. 1985; 84(2):463-8. PMC: 1987280. DOI: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1985.tb12930.x. View

20.

Vega Orozco A, Sosa Z, Fillipa V, Mohamed F, Rastrilla A . The cholinergic influence on the mesenteric ganglion affects the liberation of ovarian steroids and nitric oxide in oestrus day rats: characterization of an ex vivo system. J Endocrinol. 2006; 191(3):587-98. DOI: 10.1677/joe.1.06859. View