Calcium dependency of the post-stimulatory potentiation of the neurogenic response in small mesenteric arteries from the rat

We have previously shown that the contraction of small mesenteric arteries in response to nerve stimulation is enhanced by preceding high-frequency stimulation. We have now investigated the calcium dependency of this post-stimulatory potentiation. Small arteries (inner diameter 150-250 microns) from normotensive rats were dissected free from surrounding tissue, and segments were mounted in a myograph where the wall tension was measured at well-defined circumferences. Nerve stimulation was performed by field stimulation. A single stimulation of the nerve caused a contraction of 2.6 +/- 0.25% of maximal adrenergic response. After a high-frequency nerve stimulation with 16 Hz and 480 pulses the response to a single nerve stimulation was enhanced 6.6 +/- 1.3 times. The potentiation decayed with a time constant of 93.7 +/- 20.0 s. The amplitude of the post-stimulatory potentiation was dependent on the extracellular calcium concentration during the conditioning stimulation. In a solution containing 2.5 mM calcium the single twitch was enhanced 6.6 times while after exposure to reduced calcium (0.5 mM) it was only enhanced twice. The contraction caused by a short burst of high-frequency nerve stimulation (20 Hz and 10 pulses) was potentiated four times by a conditioning stimulation (16 Hz and 480 pulses), and this potentiation seemed to be independent of the extracellular calcium concentration during the conditioning stimulation. Thus the magnitude of the post-stimulatory potentiation of single nerve stimulations is linearly related to the extracellular calcium concentration during the conditioning nerve stimulation. For the potentiation of the response to burst stimulation no relation was found between the potentiation and extracellular calcium.     

Adrenergic mechanisms in canine intralobar pulmonary arteries and veins

The responses of canine intralobar pulmonary arteries (IPA) and veins (IPV) to transmural nerve stimulation (TNS), and exogenously administered norepinephrine (NE) were studied to evaluate the alpha-adrenergic neuroeffector system in the canine pulmonary vasculature. IPA and IPV elicited contractions in response to both NE (10(-10) to 10(-5) M) and TNS (0.5-32 Hz, 2 ms duration and delay). The equilibrium (steady state) contractile responses of IPA and IPV to TNS were abolished with the adrenergic neuronal blocking agents guanethidine and bretylium and the depolarization blocking agent tetrodotoxin in concentrations which did not affect the responses to NE or KCl. The contractile responses of IPA and IPV to TNS and NE were reduced in a concentration-dependent way, by the alpha-adrenergic receptor-blocking agents phentolamine, tolazoline and clonidine. The contractile responses of IPA and IPV to TNS and NE were enhanced after inhibition of neuronal reuptake of NE (uptake1) with cocaine, as well as after blockade of extraneuronal reuptake of NE (uptake2) with hydrocortisone. Analysis of the equilibrium responses of the IPA and IPV to TNS and NE with an Arunlakshana-Schild plot to define the concentration of alpha 1-receptor antagonists necessary to double the ED50 for TNS and NE (defined as the pA2), demonstrated that the postsynaptic alpha-receptors of IPV differed from that of IPA. These data support the conclusions that IPA and IPV 1) contain a functional adrenergic innervation and neuroeffector system, 2) contract in response to both TNS and NE, 3) demonstrate the presence of mechanisms for both uptake1 and uptake2 of NE, and 4) IPV contain postsynaptic alpha-receptors that may differ from each other.     

Adrenergic innervation of the rat hypothalamus

The adrenergic innervation of the hypothalamus was studied by measuring hypothalamic adrenaline levels following surgical transection of the lower brain stem or electrolytic lesion of the medullary adrenaline-containing cell groups. The adrenaline levels in some hypothalamic nuclei and in the median eminence showed a slight decrease after partial transection of the medulla oblongata, whilst there was a pronounced decrease (by 59-78%) 7-10 days following total hemisection or unilateral lesion of the C1-catecholaminergic cell group in the medulla oblongata.     

Adrenergic innervation in ovaries of the rat and guinea pig

The ovarian adrenergic innervation of rats and guinea pigs was studied using a fluorescent technique. In both species, catecholamine-containing nerves entered the ovary via hilar perivascular plexuses and extended into adjacent medullary and cortical tissue. The interstitial gland of the rat ovary was well innervated; however, cortical components of the ovary in this species, including corpora lutea and developing and mature follicles, were sparsely innervated. The interstitial gland and theca folliculi of developing and mature guinea pig follicles contained a dense network of beaded preterminal nerves. It is suggested that ovarian adrenergic nerves facilitate ovulation, either directly by stimulating perifollicular smooth muscle to contract or indirectly by influencing the steroid output of the interstitial gland.     

Adrenergic innervation of the calvarium of the neonatal rat

Summary The presence and distribution of adrenergic nerves in the developing calvarium of the newborn rat documented by means of the formaldehyde-induced fluorescence technique in rats aged 2 or 7 days. Nerve fibres exhibiting catecholamine-specific fluorescence were seen within the developing calvarium of all animals. In coronal sections, these fibres could be seen in the developing bone, especially in the lamina interna, while in sagittal sections, they were seen to traverse the tissue to reach the central of the diploë. These fibres originate from a denser plexus within the dura mater. Especially in the younger age group, the fluorescent fibres often exhibited an immature appearance, being coarse and devoid of varicosities. In the older animals the fibres were often varicose. The sutural tissue proper was always found to be devoid of adrenergic innervation. The possible origin and functional significance of the adrenergic innervation in the developing bone in relation to skull growth and sutural closure are discussed.     

自发性高血压大鼠脑细小动脉神经肽Y分布的研究

为了解血管周围神经肽类分布与高血压时细小动脉构型重建之关系，我们采用自发性高血压大鼠（ＳＨＲ）软脑膜铺片技术，展示了血管网的各级分支，对血管系统进行了全面、立体的观察。并用免疫组织化学、图像分析仪对血管网上神经肽Ｙ（ＮＰＹ）分布进行定性定量分析。结果表明，ＳＨＲ大脑中动脉及其分支，小动脉、细动脉壁上含ＮＰＹ神经纤维分布表面积密度及ＮＰＹ抗体阳性反应物积分光密度均明显高于正常血压组（ＷＫＹ），这一实验结果揭示脑细小动脉含ＮＰＹ神经分布密度增加，使血管平滑肌营养调节作用增强，与其动脉收缩兴奋性增高，动脉平滑肌细胞肥大和高血压的发生发展有着明显关系。     

Adrenergic innervation of the capillaries

The sympathetic innervation of microvessels in the mesentery of the small intestine and the fibrous capsule of the kidney was studied by Falck's method in 20 dogs in which experimental cardiogenic shock was induced by six daily infusions of noradrenalin. Under these experimental conditions the sympathetic innervation of the capillaries and postcapillaries could be detected in these vacular regions.Central Research Laboratory, Central Postgraduate Medical Institute, Moscow. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR N. A. Fedorov.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 87, No. 1, pp. 48–49, January 1979.     

Contractile effects of various vasoactive agents in small rat portal veins and hepatic arteries and the influence of sympathetic denervation on the noradrenaline response

Contractile responses were studied in isolated tubal segments of branches of the rat portal vein (luminal diameter approximately 300 microns) and hepatic artery (luminal diameter approximately 200 microns). Portal veins were approximately three times more sensitive to noradrenaline (NA) than hepatic arteries. 5-hydroxytryptamine contracted hepatic arteries concentration-dependently, whereas it produced only weak and inconsistent contractions in portal veins. Vasopressin effectively contracted hepatic arteries, whereas it had no effect on portal veins. Both vessel types responded to prostaglandin F2 alpha with contractions, although the drug potency was relatively low (EC50 greater than 10(-5) mol l-1). Histamine and carbachol failed to induce (hepatic arteries) or caused only weak (portal veins) contractions. Microsurgical hepatic hilar denervation reduced the catecholamine content of the parenchyma to less than or equal to 25% of controls. In both portal veins and hepatic arteries, the denervation procedure increased the NA sensitivity by factors of 3.1 and 2.0, respectively. In non-denervated livers, cocaine produced a similar increase of the NA sensitivity, whereas the drug had no significant effect in vessels from denervated animals. Thus, there was a marked difference between rat portal veins and hepatic arteries in their responsiveness to several contractile agents. Furthermore, the results of the present study indicate that the adrenergic nerves in both vessel types can be adequately removed by the microsurgical denervation procedure used.     

Transmitter characteristics of small mesenteric arteries from the rat

We have studied the neurogenic response of small mesenteric arteries from the rat to evaluate the involvement of possible co-transmitters under various modes of stimulation. Segments of small branches of the mesenteric artery were mounted in a myograph and the intramural nerves were activated with transmural electrical stimulation. A single stimulation of the nerves caused a contraction that was reduced by only 20% in the presence of adrenergic blocking agents (prazosin or phenoxybenzamine), whereas the steady-state response to continuous nerve stimulation of high frequency was reduced by 90-95%. In contrast, all responses to applied noradrenaline in doses up to at least 1 mM were eliminated by phenoxybenzamine treatment. The stable ATP analogue, alpha,beta-methylene ATP, reduced the response to a single nerve stimulation by 70%, but reduced the contraction caused by continuous high-frequency nerve stimulation by only 10%. None of these agents affected the response to applied neuropeptide Y (NPY). The response of relaxed vessels to nerve stimulation was totally blocked by the combination of an adrenoceptor-blocking agent and alpha,beta-methylene ATP, although even in this situation a further neurogenic response could be revealed in vessels precontracted with vasopressin. Responses to either single stimuli or brief burst stimulations were potentiated after high-frequency stimulation. Both the adrenergic and non-adrenergic components were enhanced to roughly the same extent. Also the potentiated response was eliminated by the combined application of prazosin and alpha,beta-methylene ATP. The non-adrenergic transmitter in the sympathetic nerves of small arteries thus appears to be the dominant transmitter during low-frequency nerve stimulation, causing rapid but phasic activation. Noradrenaline is the most important transmitter for higher frequencies, exerting slower but sustained contractions. The post-stimulatory potentiation affects both the adrenergic and the non-adrenergic part of the neurogenic response.     

Distension-dependent changes in noradrenaline sensitivity in small arteries from the rat

The effects of distension on the sensitivity to noradrenaline and potassium were assessed in ring preparations of 200 micron branches from the superior mesenteric artery of the rat. In response to noradrenaline, maximal tension development occurred at smaller luminal diameters than with potassium activation. The sensitivity to noradrenaline increased with increasing distension whereas potassium sensitivity remained largely unchanged. A distension-dependent increase in noradrenaline sensitivity was observed also in vessels depolarized with high-potassium solution. The role of the distension-dependent sensitivity to noradrenaline for isotonic contractions was also studied. Upon activation with applied noradrenaline, submaximal isotonic responses were somewhat smaller than isometric responses at the same dose. This may be ascribed to a reduction in sensitivity during the isotonic contraction. Upon neurogenic activation, no difference between isotonic and isometric responses was found. The results show that distension increases noradrenaline sensitivity in resistance vessels in vitro, but that the consequences for their function as neuroeffectors may be small.     

Adrenergic innervation of the gingiva in experimental periodontitis

In experiments on guinea pigs, the nerve-tissue relationships in gingival papillae were studied under conditions of experimental inflammation induced by local (turpentine injection) and general (whole-body γ-irradiation). It is found that structural and metabolic changes in the lamina propria and epithelium of the gingival mucosa correlate with disturbances in trophic influences from the sympathetic nervous system. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 127, No. 5, pp. 564–568, May, 1999     

Adrenergic innervation of the mammalian choroid plexus

Choroid plexuses from the four cerebral ventricles of mice, rats, guinea-pigs, rabbits, cats, cows, and monkeys were either sectioned after freeze-drying or stretched on microscope slides for subsequent exposure to formaldehyde gas to demonstrate fluorescent adrenergic nerves. All plexuses received a substantial amount of noradrenaline-containing axons which originated in the superior cervical sympathetic ganglia. The nerve terminals enclosed both arterial and venous vessels. Some of the terminals in the tufts of the choroid plexus ran between the base of the epithelial cells and the underlying vascular wall. Thus, there are structural possibilities for a sympathetic innervation of the plexus epithelium, the plexus blood vessels, or both.     

Adrenergic innervation in reactive human lymph nodes

Several experimental models have demonstrated that the central nervous system is functionally linked to the immune system by means of the autonomic nervous system. Samples of 36 lymph nodes of patients whose ages ranged from 16 to 69 y were studied. In order to demonstrate the existence and distribution of sympathetic nerve fibres, a polyclonal antibody antityrosine hydroxylase (TH), with the streptavidin-biotin system of detection, was used. TH-positive nerve fibres appeared in all reactive patterns of the lymph nodes studied. Thin nerve fascicles ramified at the hilar region and also in the connective tissue septae. Adventitial adrenergic nerve fibres were found following afferent, and to a lesser extent, efferent blood vessels. Another source of incoming nerve fibres was found at capsular level, accompanying blood vessels. On the arterial side, the innervation ceased before reaching the follicular arterioles. Our demonstration of innervation in postcapillary venules could support a regulatory role of adrenergic neurotransmitters in lymphocyte traffic. Occasional nerve fibres were also seen in T areas among parenchymatous cells. These findings confirm the existence of sympathetic innervation in human lymph nodes, and provide indirect evidence that the psychoneuroimmune axis could also exist in humans.