Summary
Biochemical and pharmacologcial parameters were used to follow the innervation characteristics of the rat was deferens transplanted (T) to the caecum. After about 5 months, a regeneration of autonomic nerves was clearly shown: first, by a complete recovery of neuronal uptake, indicated by: a) potentiation by cocaine of epinephrine (EPI) dose-response curves (T=1.47±0.25, controls (C)=1.50±0.14 log units); b) reversion to normal levels of pD2 values for norepinephrine (NE) and EPI (T=6.6.±0.1; 7.0±0.1, and C=6.4±0.1; 6.9±0.1, respectively); second, a partial restoration of nerve terminals, and corresponding pools of NE, which was seen through histofluorescence and was indicated by a percent increase of: a) NE content, 47% (T=3.8±0.8, C=8.5±0.7 =μg/g); b) dopamine-β-hydroxylase (DBH) activity, 37% (T=136±80, C=364±15 nmol(hr.g); c) release of NE by 57 mM-potassium, 23% (T=33.0±12.0, C=147±14 ng/g. 5 min). Yet, two peculiarities of denervated organs remained practically unchanged even after 5-month transplantation: NE supersensitivity, measured by the relative responsiveness (p) ratio (T=0.96±0.02, C=0.69±0.03), and tyramine-induced contraction, that was recovered by only 14% (T=10.0±2.4, C=72.0±3.5 mm). This differential recovery of the forementioned parameters is discussed in the light of receptor mechanisms and functional changes following reinnervation.
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Jurkiewicz, N.H., Jurkiewicz, A. & Garcia, A.G. Reinnervation of the transplanted vas deferens: differential recovery of various biochemical and pharmacological parameters. J. Neural Transmission 85, 83–94 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01244701
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01244701