Effects of 6-hydroxydopamine on rat carotid body chief cells.

Administration of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) in concentrations high enough to cause degeneration of perivascular adrenergic nerve terminals has no morphological effect on the catecholamine-storing cells of the rat carotid body. Uptake of 6-OHDA by carotid body chief cells may be more selective than that exhibited by small-intensely-fluorescent cells and other catecholamine-storing cells which are affected by 6-OHDA. Alternatively, the sustentacular cells which envelope the chief cells may provide an effective barrier against the uptake of 6-OHDA.