Autoradiography of [3H]-proline uptake by fibroblasts of the periodontal ligament and odontoblasts of the rat incisor after guanethidine-induced sympathectomy.

The uptake of [3H]-proline was monitored by quantitative autoradiography at 30, 45 and 90 days of age. Grain counts in sympathectomized rats did not vary significantly from control values at any time. Thus the sympathetic nervous system does not influence the metabolic activity of these cells, which agrees with morphologic evidence that the innervation of the rat incisor may not be autonomic.