title: Differentiation of noradrenergic and dopaminergic neurons in the cardiovascular system.
abstract: Dopamine (DA), 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and norepinephrine (NE) are present in the rat cardiovascular system. All of the catechols can be partially depleted by administering 6-hydroxydopamine (6-HODA). When animals are pretreated with desipramine before 6-HODA, there is a selective partial depletion of DA and DOPAC. NE can be partially depleted with minimal effects on DA and DOPAC by administering N-(2-chloroethyl)N-ethyl-2-bromobenzylamine (DSP-4). These results are consistent with the hypothesis that independent dopaminergic and noradrenergic elements are present in the rat cardiovascular system and that DA is not solely a precursor for NE. NE, DA and DOPAC were assayed in human vessels and the pattern of distribution of the catechols is consistent with the results reported for animals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH 43210, U.S.A.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hadjiconstantinou
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Papademetriou
authors.forename: N H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Neff