PERSISTING HIGH LEVEL OF TRANSMITTER IN UTERINE SHORT ADRENERGIC NEURONS FOLLOWING PROLONGED TREATMENT WITH 17β-OESTRADIOL

Abstract

The myometrium of the rabbit uterus receives its adrenergic nerve supply by way of short adrenergic neurons originating in peripheral ganglia located at the uterovaginal junction. Treatment with 17β-oestradiol daily for 4 weeks produced a doubling of the total noradrenaline content of the uterus, as measured fluorimetrically. This high transmitter level persisted even if the oestrogen administration was interrupted after half the experimental period. No changes occurred in the noradrenaline content of the control organs (heart and ovary) which are innervated by ordinary long adrenergic neurons from the sympathetic chain. The significance of the present results for the marked changes in uterine noradrenaline previously found during pregnancy is discussed.