Elektronenmikroskopische Untersuchungen an Nervenfasern in menschlichen Schweissdrüsen

Summary

The nerve supply of the axillary sweat glands was investigated electron microscopically in 8 osmidrosis patients. The following results were obtained:

• 1. The autonomic peripheral nerve fibers are distributed in the layer of collagen fibers outside the basement membranes of the glandular tubes, and they run parallel to the axis of these tubes. Peripheral autonomic nerve fibers were never seen to pass through the basement membrane and to enter the parenchyma. The axons of the nerve fibers probably make contact with the basement membrane of the sweat glands.

• 2. No nerve fiber was found in the area of excretory ducts.

• 3. While running in the Schwann cell cytoplasm, the axons of the nerve fibers fit into excavations of the Schwann cells. A row of Schwann cells, which are elongated and arranged non-syneytially, is covered with numerous collagen fibers. They run parallel to the long axis of the Schwann cells. Occasionally a fibrocyte is seen near the collagen fibers, which are surrounding the Schwann cells.

• 4. The peripheral nerve fibers bordering the basement membrane of the sweat glands are not ensheathed by fibrocytes. Bundles of nerve fibers are enwrapped cylindrically with endoneurium.

• 5. When leaving the cytoplasm of one Schwann cell and entering that of the next, the axon never gets out of the layer of collagen fibers surrounding the two Schwann cells.

• 6. Inside the axoplasm of the peripheral nerve fiber around the sweat glands, there are many synaptic vesicles and mitochondria.