Synopsis
Carotid bodies of adult albino rats were examined using the formaldehyde-induced fluorescence (FIF) method for the demonstration of fluorogenic monaomines and staining with I% Toluidine Blue for morphological observations.
In the carotid body of normal controls, most glomus (principal or type I) cells exhibited a FIF presumably due to catecholamines. The intensity of the fluorescence was weak in most cells, while some glomus cells were non-fluorescent and others exhibited a moderate or intense FIF. The sustentacular (satellite, supporting or type II) cells were essentially non-fluorescent.
One week after the administration of a single intraperitoneal injection of the long-acting glucocorticoid 6-methylprednisolone sypionate (400 mg/kg) or after seven intraperitoneal injections of the water-soluble glucocorticoid hydrocortisone sodium succinate (40 mg/kg daily for a week), a distinct increase was observed in the FIF of the glomus cells. No non-fluorescent glomus cells were observed after treatment with either glucocorticoid, and the intensity of most fluorescent glomus cells was moderate or intense.
It is concluded that glucocorticoids cause an increased storage of catecholamines in the glomus cells of the carotid body of the adult rat, an observation of interest in view of the fact that such changes due to glucocorticoids have as yet been reported only in catecholamine-storing cells of newborn rats.
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Korkala, O., Eränkö, O., Partanen, S. et al. Histochemically demonstrable increase in the catecholamine content of the carotid body in adult rats treated with methylprednisolone or hydrocortisone. Histochem J 5, 479–485 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01012005
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01012005