Microfluorimetric Investigations of Catecholamine-Containing Neurons

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the microfluorimetric investigations of catecholamine-containing neurons. The intensity of the catecholamine fluorescence in the nerve cell bodies of the tubero-infundibular neuron group was first investigated during the estrous cycle. The intensity of catecholamine fluorescence in the nerve cells of the tuberal region and of the substantia nigra of female rats is measured by means of an adaptation for the microfluorimetry of the fluorescence method. Frequency distributions of the nerve cells are established on the basis of their relative fluorescence intensities. The catecholamine fluorescence of tuberal nerve cells is also influenced by ovariectomy and subsequent estrogen treatment. Catecholamine-containing tubero-infundibular neurons take part in the control of anterior pituitary function. The findings are interpreted as reflecting activity changes of these neurons. They illustrate a possible approach to the quantitative functional analysis of the catecholamine content of single neurons.