THE EVIDENCE OF CAROTID-BODY IN THE CAROTID RETE OF THE SHIBA GOAT

The carotid body was found in/on the cavernous sinus of the carotid re te of the Japanese miniature Shiba goat by light and electron microsco pies. The carotid body-like aggregated cell group consisted of two typ es of cells arranged in the lobule. The first type contained membrane- bound granular vesicles; these cells resembled to the type-I cells in the carotid body. The second type contained no cytoplasmic vesicles, a nd were located in the periphery, investing the type-I cells. These fe atures appear to be consistent with those of the type-II cells in the carotid body. The nerve ending showed two peculiar features in the int ercellular space of type-I cells. The clear vesicle-containing nerve e nding showed a structural feature indicative of efferent synapsis. The small granular vesicle-containing nerve ending has been described as a baroreceptor-like ending by VERNA (1979). All of these features are typical characteristics of the carotid body.