Ultrastructural organization of the sensory fibers innervating the Golgi tendon organ

The organization of the sensory innervation of Golgi tendon organs (GTO) from E. carpi ulnaris of the cat is described. The large Ib afferent fiber gives rise to small myelinated branches which become oriented longitudinally in a neural compartment of the GTO capsule lumen. The latter give rise to smaller, unmyelinated branches which further arborize among loosely packed collagen bundles. The unmyelinated fibers form numerous varicosities and small terminal branches which have portions of the axolemma covered only by basal lamina which intervenes between the collagen bundles and the axolemma. In places, the axon's surface may lack all investments and nerve and collagen come into intimate association. The large unmyelinated branches and their varicosities have different axoplasmic characteristics compared with the small unmyelinated terminal portions. The latter contain few or no mitochondria, vesicles, neurotubules, and neurofilaments. In addition to the description of the terminals, the similarities and differences of the innervation of the GTO, compared with other mechanoreceptors, are discussed.