Decrease in adrenaline content of various organs of the rat after 6-hydroxydopamine.

To examine the location of adrenaline in peripheral organs of mammals, adrenaline and noradrenaline were measured in several organs of rats treated with 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) or vehicle. After the administration of 6-OHDA, there was a marked decrease in the content of both adrenaline and noradrenaline in the heart, spleen, submaxillary gland of the rat. This finding suggests that in rats adrenaline is present in noradrenaline neurons in these organs.