Catecholamine concentrations in discrete brain nuclei and sympathetic tissues of genetically hypertensive mice.

Catecholamine concentrations were determined at central and peripheral level in high blood pressure (HBP), low blood pressure (LBP) and random bred (RB) mice. In HBP mice compared to LBP, the noradrenaline concentration was lower in the locus coeruleus, medullary A1-C1 and A2-C2 areas, thoracic spinal cord, posteroventral hypothalamus and nucleus hypothalamicus anterior, while dopamine concentration was decreased in the striatum. Adrenal catecholamine levels were higher in both HBP and LBP compared to RB mice.