title: Innervation patterns of the middle cervical--stellate ganglion complex in the rat.
abstract: The present experiments were designed to clarify the distribution of innervation of the middle and inferior cervical ganglia in the rat (middle cervical-stellate ganglion complex), the sympathetic ganglia which give rise to virtually all cardiac sympathetic nerves. Seven or 28 days after middle cervical-stellate ganglionectomy (surgical sympathectomy) norepinephrine content was measured in 9 peripheral areas including both the left and right atria and ventricles of the heart. The results were also compared to chemical sympathectomy produced with 6-hydroxydopamine. Seven or 28 days after surgical sympathectomy norepinephrine concentrations were reduced in all cardiac regions by at least 94%. Norepinephrine concentration in sub-diaphragmatic (spleen), but not supra-diaphragmatic (left intrascapular fat, left forelimb muscle), non-cardiac organs was preserved at control levels. 6-Hydroxydopamine treatment significantly reduced the norepinephrine concentration in all of the cardiac and non-cardiac tissues. The present evidence indicates that the middle cervical-stellate ganglion complex in the rat projects to a rather limited number of peripheral organs. Additionally, surgical sympathectomy produces more selective cardiac sympathectomy than 6-hydroxydopamine.
authors: Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Iowa City, IA 52246.
authors: B J
authors: BJ
authors: Pardini
authors: D D
authors: DD
authors: Lund
authors: P G
authors: PG
authors: Schmid
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000378:metabolism; D005728:Ganglia, Sympathetic / Q000378:metabolism; D006892:Hydroxydopamines; D009132:Muscles / Q000378:metabolism; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000378:metabolism; D016627:Oxidopamine; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D013154:Spleen / Q000378:metabolism; D013233:Stellate Ganglion / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D013562:Sympathectomy; D013563:Sympathectomy, Chemical
chemical_list: D002395:Catecholamines; D006892:Hydroxydopamines; D016627:Oxidopamine; D009638:Norepinephrine