PEDIATRICS · 1971 · 14 citations · 0 references
Life SciencesPediatricsPhysiologyDevelopmental PediatricsDevelopmental PhysiologyNeonatologyDevelopmental NeurophysiologyDevelopmental PharmacologyNeonatal DevelopmentNeonatal PharmacologyNeonatal PhysiologyNewborn PhysiologyAdrenergic MydriaticsDilator Pupillae InnervationDilator Pupillae MuscleMydriasis PhysiologyPupil Dilation MechanismsPupil Dilation ResponsePupillary InnervationPupillary Pharmacology
In premature and full-term infants, the response of the dilator pupillae muscle to directly and indirectly acting sympathetic amines was measured. Phenylephrine always produced a mydriasis, whereas the response to tyramine and hydroxyamphetamine, which was positively correlated with age, tended to be absent in the least mature, smaller babies. The results indicate that, in this situation, the end organ has the capacity to respond to the sympathetic neurohumoral transmitter, but that the synthesis, storage, or release of neuronal noradrenaline may be deficient.