The intrapulmonary neuroepithelial bodies after vagotomy: demonstration of their sensory neuroreceptor-like innervation

Summary In the neonatal rabbit, infranodosal vagotomy destroys most of the intracorpuscular nerve endings of the pulmonary neuroepithelial bodies (NEB), while supranodosal vagotomy leaves these nerve endings intact. We conclude that NEB are mainly innervated by sensory neurons whose cell bodies lie in the nodose ganglion of the vagus nerve. These findings support the hypothesis that although secretory in nature, NEB are neuroreceptor structures.This study was supported by the Nationaal Fonds voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek. Fonds voor Geneeskundig Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek, Belgium. The authors thank R. Renwart and K. Armee for technical, G. Pison for photographical assistance.