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Vasomotor innervation in the hind limb muscles of the normal and 6-hydroxydopamine treated cat

A formol fluorescence, histochemical and fine structural study

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Summary

Vasomotor nervous distribution to arteries in the cat gastrocnemius and soleus muscles was investigated in the normal and 6-hydroxydopamine treated animal. Muscle samples were processed for the demonstration of acetylcholinesterase by a thiocholine method and for the presence of catecholamines by a formol fluorescence technique. In isolated perfused muscle preparations noradrenaline or adrenaline increased perfusion pressure while acetylcholine or isoprenaline decreased this pressure. A beaded fluorescent periarterial plexus (not visualised after reserpine treatment) was observed. Vasomotor axons, all of which were ACHE-negative, exhibited degenerative changes following 6-hydroxydopamine injection, while ACHE-positive axons outside the adventitial sheath were unaffected. No indication of cholinergic periarterial nerves was found and our evidence suggests that the vasomotor innervation is adrenergic sympathetic in nature.

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This work was supported by a grant from the Medical Research Council. During the tenure of a Wellcome Trust Fellowship, Dr. F. Joó is on leave of absence from Jozsef Attila University, Szeged, Hungary. The electron microscope is on permanent loan to one of us (J. D. L.) from the Wellcome Trust. We are most grateful to Mrs. G. Howells and Miss D. Morgan for technical assistance and to Mr. P. Hire for photographic help.

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Lever, J.D., Spriggs, T.L.B., Ivens, C. et al. Vasomotor innervation in the hind limb muscles of the normal and 6-hydroxydopamine treated cat. Z.Zellforsch 122, 389–396 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00935997

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00935997

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