Effect of preganglionic stimulation or chronic decentralization on neurotensin-like immunoreactivity in sympathetic ganglia of the cat

In pentobarbital-anesthetized cats, supramaximal stimulation (40 Hz, 2 h) of the preganglionic input to the acutely decentralized right stellate (RSG) or superior cervical (RSCG) ganglion resulted in a decrease in neurotensin (NT)-like immunoreactivity (IR), by 83% in the SG and by 46% in the SCG, as determined by radioimmunoassay. Chronic (7 days) decentralization of the ganglia resulted in a similar depletion of NT-like IR (SG: 86%; SCG: 76%). Supramaximal stimulation (40 Hz, 2 h) of the intact postganglionic outflow of either ganglion had no effect on NT-like IR. These data suggest that NT in the SG and SCG is present in preganglionic axons and is released by activation of these axons.