Tyrosine hydroxylase-like immunoreactivity and catecholamine fluorescence in ciliary ganglion neurons.

In the ciliary ganglia of monkeys, dogs, cats and rats, some neuronal perikarya exhibited tyrosine hydroxylase-like immunoreactivity; neither dopamine-beta-hydroxylase-like immunoreactivity nor phenylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase-like immunoreactivity was found in perikarya. Some perikarya of ciliary ganglion neurons displayed catecholamine fluorescence; the fluorescent perikarya were significantly increased in number in dogs injected with nialamide. Thus the existence of dopamine-containing ciliary ganglion neurons was suggested.