Adrenergic Nerve Function, Noradrenaline Level and Noradrenaline Uptake in Gat Nictitating Membrane after Reserpine Treatment

Abstract After reserpine injection to cats (0.1 mg/kg subcutaneously) there was a severe impairment of the adrenergic transmission in the nictitating membranes with recovery after 48 to 72 hrs. The noradrenaline of the nictitating membrane was virtually completely lost at the time of the disturbed nerve function and showed no significant restoration at the time of functional recovery. The uptake of tritiated noradrenaline by the nictitating membranes was blocked by reserpine but was partially restored after 48 to 72 hrs, thus coinciding with functional recovery. It is suggested that an intact adrenergic transmission is dependent on the ability of the amine storage granules to incorporate noradrenaline in a small fraction immediately important for the function.