ADRENERGIC-INNERVATION AND CYCLIC ADENOSINE 3'-5'-MONOPHOSPHATE LEVELS IN RESPONSE TO NOREPINEPHRINE IN STOMACH OF POSTNATAL RATS

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 211  (1) , 174-180
Abstract
Changes in receptor function, innervation and c[cyclic]AMP levels in response to norepinephrine were studied in the stomach of postnatal developing rats. The .beta.-adrenergic receptor function and responsiveness of cAMP-generating system to norepinephrine are present in the early postnatal stage (3 day old), these systems are not fully developed at birth and increase in sensitivity comes with age. Adrenergic innervation is present at birth in Auerbach''s plexus but not in smooth muscle, during the 1st postnatal wk. Direct adrenergic innervation to smooth muscle appears 1 wk after birth and matures during the first 4 wk. This maturation of direct adrenergic innervation runs in parallel with the increased sensitivity of .beta.-receptors and is accompanied by an elevated responsiveness of the cAMP-generating system to norepinephrine.