Some evidence for the maturity of peripheral adrenergic nerves in new-born guinea-pigs.
The fluorescence histochemical technique of Falck and Hillarp revealed a similar distribution and density of peripheral adrenergic nerves in new-born and adult guinea-pigs. The accumulation of tritiated noradrenaline by tracheae from new-born guinea-pigs, assumed to be uptake into adrenergic nerves, was not less than the accumulation by tracheae from adult animals. There was equal potentiation by cocaine (1 x 10(-5)M) of responses to noradrenaline on tracheal chain preparations taken from new-born and adult guinea-pigs. The evidence supports the hypothesis that the guinea-pig has a functional, well differentiated peripheral adrenergic nervous system at birth. This would account for the apparent inability to produce a long-lasting sympathectomy by administration of 6-hydroxydopamine to new-born guinea-pigs.
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000502:physiology*; D016275:Atrial Function; D003042:Cocaine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs / Q000502:physiology*; D006321:Heart / Q000294:innervation; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006892:Hydroxydopamines / Q000494:pharmacology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007545:Isoproterenol / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000502:physiology*; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D014132:Trachea / Q000294:innervation / Q000378:metabolism
D006892:Hydroxydopamines; D003042:Cocaine; D007545:Isoproterenol; D009638:Norepinephrine