Studies on the Innervation of the Uveal Tract

Abstract

The nervous structures of the uveal tract in man, rabbit, guinea-pig and rat were studied with the Schabadasch''s methylene blue technique as modified by Hillarp and with the ammoniated silver carbonate after Jabonero. Following the division of the uveal tract in 3 regions[long dash]choroid, ciliary body and iris[long dash]the nervous structures peculiar to each region are described first to facilitate the comparative analysis of their innervation and then the general characteristics of theuveal innervation. Besides a rich nervous plexus that has special characteristics according to its localization in the choroid, ciliary body or in the iris, ganglion cells in the choroid and in the ciliary body which are sometimes grouped forming true microganglia were also studied. Several peculiar nervous structures in the choroid and in the ciliary body which are interpreted as being sensory nerve-endings, since their morphology and their presence in the uveal tract of man and animals studied makes it difficult to accept them as pathological nervous structures. The sensory nerve-endings of the uveal tract may be important in the regulation of the physiopatho-logical phenomena of the eye.