Peripheral and central catecholaminergic neurons in genetic and experimental hypertension in rats.

1. Activity of peripheral and central catecholaminergic neurons was studied in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and deoxycorticosterone (DOCA)-salt hypertensive rats. 2. In young SHR (4 weeks) the plasma values of bpth noradrenaline and dopamine-beta-hydroxylase activity were increased compared with those of normotensive rats of the Wistar/Kyoto strain. Total catecholamines (mostly adrenaline) were not significantly different. 3. In the adrenal glands of 2-weeks-old and 4-weeks-old SHR activities of tyrosine hydroxylase, dopamine-beta-hydroxylase, phenylethanolamine-N-methyl transferase were decreased, compared to Wistar/Kyoto rats. 4. The adrenaline-forming enzyme was elevated in the A1 and A2 regions of the brain stem of 4-weeks-old SHR and in the A1 region of adult DOCA-salt hypertensive rats. 5. In the adrenal glands of adult DOCA-salt hypertensive rats tyrosine hydroxylase activity was increased. 6. These results implicate peripheral noradrenaline-containing neurons and central adrenaline-containing neurons in the development of genetic and experimental hypertension in rats.