THE EFFECTS OF ABDOMINAL SYMPATHECTOMY, ADRENAL INACTIVATION AND REMOVAL OF THE STELLATE GANGLIA ON THE SPONTANEOUS ACTIVITY OF THE ALBINO RAT

Abstract

In 10 albino rats, abdominal sympathectomy did not change spontaneous activity. Combined with adrenal inactivation it did not affect for more than 10 days the voluntary activity (slightly below controls) of 13 rats. Subsequent removal of 1 or both stellate ganglia with the upper part of the thoracic sympathetic chains has no significant effect on spontaneous activity. Enlargement of the seminal vesicles, which occurs in rats after abdominal sympathec-tomy, was not associated with any change in the activity level. It is concluded that removal of the sympathetic nerve supply to the genital organs and adrenals does not affect the normal secretion of the endocrine products which are known to affect the spontaneous activity of the rat. Sympathetic denervation of the 4 limbs does not significantly reduce muscular activity.