title: [Endogenous catecholamines and excitability of the superior cervical ganglion of the rat (author's transl)].
abstract: 1. The excitability of the superior cervical ganglion of the rat, as measured by homosynaptic facilitation, was enhanced after a three-day administration of guanethidine (fig. 1) or reserpine (fig. 2). 2. The excitability of the superior cervical ganglion of the rat was not diminished after a three-day treatment with L-Dopa, Benseraside (Ro 4-4602/1) and Iproniazid, at a dosage below the toxic level (table I). 3. The enhancement of ganglionic excitability is assigned to the action of the drugs upon the catecholamines of the chromaffin cells (and their processes) present in the superior cervical ganglion. 4. Except for alpha-methyl-meta-tyrosine, the drugs which were used did not cause any ultrastructural changes on the granules and vesicles of the chromaffin cells (fig. 4). 5. Alpha-methyl-meta-tyrosine did not enhance the ganglionic excitability, but damaged the Golgi complex, the mitochondria and the granules of the chromaffin cells, especially in the para-hilus area. The more peripheral chromaffin cells showed much less ultrastructural damage.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001545:Benserazide / Q000494:pharmacology; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000502:physiology*; D002838:Chromaffin System / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005725:Ganglia, Autonomic / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D006145:Guanethidine / Q000494:pharmacology; D007490:Iproniazid / Q000494:pharmacology; D007980:Levodopa / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012110:Reserpine / Q000494:pharmacology; D014443:Tyrosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D002395:Catecholamines; D014443:Tyrosine; D007980:Levodopa; D001545:Benserazide; D012110:Reserpine; D007490:Iproniazid; D006145:Guanethidine
vernacular_title: Excitabilité du ganglion sympathique du rat et catécholamine endogène