Histochemical features of neurons in the cat stellate ganglion during postnatal ontogenesis

Changes in the distribution of NADPH-diaphorase (NADPH-d) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) were studied in neurons of the stellate ganglion in newborn, 10-, 20-day-old, 1-, 2-, 4- and 6-month-old kittens. AChE-positive neurons were revealed in the stellate ganglion (SG) from birth onwards. The number of these neurons increased until 20 days of postnatal life and then declined in 1- and 2-month-old kittens. A small number of weakly stained, NADPH-d-positive cells were found in newborn kittens, while intensely stained neurons first appeared in 10-day-old animals and increased in number up to the second month of life. The size of AChE-positive neurons was larger in comparison with NADPH-d-positive cells in the stellate ganglion of all animals under study. We suggest that putative vasodilator neurons or cells innervating sweat glands exhibit different development patterns from the moment of birth.