1967 Volume 31 Issue 8 Pages 1187-1196
1. Enzyme histochemical studies were per-formed on the superior cervical sympathetic ganglia of the spontaneously hypertensive rats (OKAMOTO and AOKI). Acid phosphatase, monoamine oxidase and acetylcholine esterase activities were examined using a total of 18 spontaneously hypertensive rats and 18 normotensive rats of Wistar strain. 2. Acid phosphatase revealed increased activity in the spontaneously hypertensive rats in prehypertensive stage (6 of 7 cases examined), initial stage of hypertension (4 of 6 cases) and advanced stage of hypertension (5 of 5 cases). 3. Increased monoamine oxidase activity in the spontaneously hypertensive rats was observed in all cases examined. 4. As to acetylcholine esterase, no significant difference in the enzyme activities among the examined animals could be found in the present study. 5. From the above-mentioned findings, probable sympathetic overactivity in the spontaneously hypertensive rats was presented and discussed in relation to the functional significance of the enzymes in the sympathetic ganglion.
