Depletion and recovery of catecholamines in several organs of rats treated with reserpine.

Chemical sympathectomy with reserpine depletes catecholamines in every neuronal or nonneuronal cell producing a nonspecific temporal sympathectomy. After reserpine administration, most of the drug is distributed to tissues based on their blood flow and would then either be metabolized or be reversibly bound in lipid depots from where it might be released. Consequently, reserpine concentration and the catecholamine-depleting effect in the various tissues are expected to differ according to the route of administration.

Epinephrine and dopamine colocalization with norepinephrine in various peripheral tissues: guanethidine effects.

Chemical sympathectomy with guanethidine (Gnt) selectively destroys the postganglionic noradrenergic neurons, whereas dopaminergic fibers and nonneural catecholamine-secreting cells are spared. As a result, the relative proportions of norepinephrine (NE), epinephrine (E), and dopamine (DA) in tissues can be differentially affected. This study was done to show the possible differences in the relative amount of catecholamines in some organs and tissues that might indicate the nature of the secretory cells from which they originate.

Chemical sympathectomy alters food intake and thermogenic responses to catecholamines in rats.

It has been suggested that the sympathetic nervous system contributes to the short-term control of feeding. The adrenergic innervation of some splanchnic organs seems to be especially involved in such processes, since catecholamines reduce feeding only when injected intraperitoneally or intraportally. In this work, the effects of neonatal sympathetic denervation with guanethidine (Gnt) upon food intake were assessed in adult rats.