title: Biochemical analysis of catecholamines in small intensely fluorescent (SIF) cell clusters of the rat superior cervical ganglion.
abstract: The microlaser technique of isolating small cell clusters has been applied to groups of small intensely fluorescent (SIF) cells in rat superior cervical ganglion. Alternate cryostat sections were either incubated in glyoxylic acid monohydrate or freeze-dried. SIF cell clusters, recognized by glyoxylic acid-induced fluorescence, were re-identified in the consecutive freeze-dried section through dark-field microscopy. Three clusters were dissected with a BTG microlaser unit and collected for biochemical assay. The catecholamine content of the specimens was measured by gas chromatography/mass fragmentography, using 3 deuterated catecholamines as an internal standard and calibration curves of each catecholamine. The findings indicate the presence of these 3 catecholamines in rat SIF cell clusters in a varying amount: in probes, each consisting of 5 cell clusters, the content of norepinephrine averaged approximately 7.3 pmol, of epinephrine below 1 pmol, and of dopamine from below 1 pmol to 14.6 pmol.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000032:analysis*; D002469:Cell Separation / Q000379:methods; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D004298:Dopamine / Q000032:analysis; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000032:analysis; D005728:Ganglia, Sympathetic / Q000032:analysis / Q000166:cytology*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D007834:Lasers; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
chemical_list: D002395:Catecholamines; D004298:Dopamine; D009638:Norepinephrine; D004837:Epinephrine