Tryptophan hydroxylase activity and 5-hydroxytryptamine-immunoreactive cells in the superior cervical ganglion of hydrocortisone-treated neonatal rats

Neurosci Res. 1989 Feb;6(3):276-81. doi: 10.1016/0168-0102(89)90067-9.

Abstract

Early postnatal glucocorticoid injections led to a large increase in the number of 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT)-immunoreactive small cells in the rat superior cervical ganglion. Tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) activity in ganglia from animals treated with glucocorticoids was not significantly different from saline-injected controls. Both 5-HT immunoreactivity and TPH activity were decreased in ganglia from animals treated with glucocorticoid and the TPH inhibitor parachlorophenylalanine, but not in animals treated with 5-HT uptake inhibitor fluoxetine. These results suggest that 5-HT is synthesized in the small intensely fluorescent (SIF) cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Fenclonine / pharmacology
  • Fluoxetine / pharmacology
  • Ganglia, Sympathetic / drug effects
  • Ganglia, Sympathetic / enzymology*
  • Hydrocortisone / pharmacology*
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Rats
  • Serotonin / analysis*
  • Tryptophan Hydroxylase / analysis*

Substances

  • Fluoxetine
  • Serotonin
  • Tryptophan Hydroxylase
  • Fenclonine
  • Hydrocortisone