HISTOCHEMICAL DEMONSTRATION OF CATECHOLAMINE UPTAKE BY ADRENERGIC FIBERS

Abstract

Uptake of catecholamines by adrenergic fibers was tested in isolated rat irises using the histochemical formaldehyde condensation technique. Minimum concentration in medium for detectable uptake was 0.5 µg/ml for the naturally-occurring catecholamines norepinephrine, epinephrine and dopamine. Adenosine mono-, di-, or triphosphate in minimum concentration of 0.01 µg/ml was required for amine uptake. Parallel specific chemical analyses confirmed the uptake of norepinephrine and epinephrine shown histochemically.