Catecholamine synthesis and excretion in rats exposed intermittently to cold.

Previous findings have shown a turnover of nuclear DNA, a condition related to the functional activity of these cells, in the adrenal medullae of rats intermittently exposed to cold. Striking differences have been observed between various strains of rats, particularly Italico and Wistar rats. In order to evaluate the function of the adrenal medullary cells, the content of catecholamines in the organ and their urinary excretion have been evaluated, with the fluorimetric method, in rats of Italico and Wistar strains kept at room temperature and exposed intermittently to cold. The results show that (i) at room temperature the levels of excretion are lower in Italico than in Wistar rats in spite of the equal amine contents of the adrenal medullae, (ii) the first exposure to cold causes a large increase in the urinary excretion and a decrease of adrenaline and noradrenaline content of the adrenal glands in both strains, (iii) after 3 days the catecholamine content in the organ was higher than normal in Wistar rats, whereas in the Italico strain it continued to decrease, and (iv) a new steady state at higher levels is reached after 20 days of exposure, when not only the catecholamine content but also the urinary excretion is equal in both strains. These differences between the two strains of rats during intermittent cold exposure are discussed in relation to the behaviour of DNA.