Abstract
In order to elucidate the effect of stimulation of the cervical sympathetic nerve on catecholamine (CA) fluorescence of the cerebral arteries, unilateral superior cervical ganglia (SCG) of 18 adult cats were stimulated under pentobarbital anesthesia while 15 cats were used as controls. Short segments of the large arteries of the cerebral base were taken out immediately after various periods of electrical stimulation, processed through Falck-Hillarp's method, and embedded in paraffin, then 8μ thick cross sections were serially cut. Fluorescence photomicrographs were taken on both sides of the respective vessels and the intensities of CA fluorescence were compared with each other. The results obtained were as follows:
1. CA fluorescence was identified in the cerebral vascular walls of the controlled animals and there was no significant difference in CA fluorescence observed between the two sides of the respective vessels.
2. In the experimental animals, CA fluorescence was identified on both sides and it generally increased in the vascular walls of the stimulated side as compared with the unstimulated side. The increase of CA fluorescence on the stimulated side was prominent in the internal carotid arteries, while, it was noted least marked in the posterior cerebral arteries.
