Adrenergic neuronal degeneration induced in portal vein and caudal artery by 6-hydroxydopamine in vitro

• Published in: The Journal of pharmacology and experimental therapeutics Vol. 198; no. 3; pp. 578 - 588
• Main Authors: Aprigliano, O, Rybarczyk, K E, Hermsmeyer, K, Van Orden, L S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics 01.09.1976
• Subjects: Animals; Blood Vessels - drug effects; Blood Vessels - innervation; Blood Vessels - ultrastructure; Hydroxydopamines - pharmacology; In Vitro Techniques; Male; Microscopy, Electron; Muscle Denervation; Muscle, Smooth - drug effects; Nerve Degeneration - drug effects; Portal Vein - drug effects; Rats; Sacrococcygeal Region - blood supply; Sympathetic Nervous System - drug effects
• ISSN: 0022-3565; 1521-0103

Fluorescence histochemistry and electron microscopy were used to study the structural consequences of in vitro exposure to the sympatholytic agent 6-hydroxydopamine on two blood vessels, the portal mesenteric vein and caudal artery of the rat. The results showed depletion of catecholamines to indetectable levels associated with clear signs of adrenergic nerve degeneration, such as cytoplasmic shrinking, virtual absence of dense core vesicles and swelling of mitochondria. All of the changes observed occurred within 2 hours in the caudal arteries and 3.5 hours in the portal veins. Comparison of electron and fluorescence micrographs of incubated control specimens with those of unincubated, fresh specimens showed that the nerve endings of the incubated controls were well preserved for at least 3.5 hours. With destruction of nerve endings in such a short period of time, the processes of specific neuronal degeneration could be clearly demonstrated in isolated blood vessels.