Noradrenaline turnover in the tissues of uraemic rats.

In female Wistar rats with acute renal failure a decrease of noradrenaline concentration in the heart, spleen and kidney was ascertained. Noradrenaline concentration after alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine and 6-hydroxydopamine in the heart, spleen and kidney was significantly lower than in the control group. In the adrenals a decrease of catecholamine level after alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine and 6-hydroxydopamine has been noted in the controls. The changes in tissue noradrenaline concentration are evidence of a dysfunction in the adrenergic nervous system in uraemic rats.