Autonomic nerves, mast cells, and amine receptors in human brain vessels. A histochemical and pharmacological study

doi:10.1016/0006-8993(76)90356-5

Brain Research

Volume 115, Issue 3, 22 October 1976, Pages 377-393

https://doi.org/10.1016/0006-8993(76)90356-5 Get rights and content

Abstract

The studies were performed on operation material from 17- to 63-year-old patients and on fetuses at 19–23 weeks gestational age. Formaldehyde histofluorescence showed the presence of numerous perivascular adrenergic nerves around pial and intracerebral vessels, the carotid system being better supplied than the vertebral system. Cholinergic nerves, visualized by the cholinesterase technique, followed the adrenergic fibers in the plexus formations of the pial arterial system. Histamine-containing mast cells, often with a perivascular distribution, were located with theo-phthaldialdehyde method. Transmural electrical stimulation of the perivascular nerves contracted isolated pieces of pial arteries in a frequency-dependent manner, and the response was inhibited by the adrenergic nerve blocking agent, guanethidine. On the basis of the relative potency of various amines and related compounds in producing a motor response of isolated pial arteries, and the mode of inhibition caused by specific antagonists, various amine receptors could be demonstrated: adrenergic alpha-receptors (mediating contraction) and beta-receptors (dilation), cholinergic muscarinic receptors (dilation) and histamine H₂-receptors (mediating dilation). Thus, the amine mechanisms demonstrated in human brain vessels appear to be principally the same as those shown in more extensive studies on laboratory animals.

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Autonomic nerves, mast cells, and amine receptors in human brain vessels. A histochemical and pharmacological study

Abstract

J. Ultrastruct. Res.

Brain Research

Brain Research

Brain Research

Brain Research

J. Ultrastruct. Res.

Brain Research

Electrical transmission at the nexus between smooth muscle cells

J. gen. Physiol.

Localized neurogenic vasoconstriction of the basilar artery

Stroke

Fluorescence microscopic and microspectrofluorometric techniques for the cellular localization and characterization of biogenic amines

An improved method for the histochemical demonstration of histamine and other compounds producing fluorophores witho-phthaldialdehyde

J. Histochem. Cytochem.

The innervation of cerebral arteioles in the cat

Neurology (Minneap.)

The innervation of the cerebral arteries

J. Anat. (Lond.)

Electron microscopic observations on human intracranial arteries. II. Innervation

Arch. Neurol. (Chic.)

Sympathetic control of cerebral blood flow in dogs

Circulat. Res.

Ontogenesis of peripheral adrenergic neurons in the rat: Pre- and postnatal observations

Acta physiol. scand.

Sympathetic innervation of cerebral arteries: Prejunctional supersensitivity to norepinephrine after sympathectomy or cocaine treatment

Stroke

Possibilities for a cholinergic nerve action on smooth musculature and on sympathetic axons in brain vessels mediated by muscarinic and nicotinic receptors

J. Pharmacol. exp. Ther.

Influence of initial tension and changes in sensitivity during amine-induced contractions of pial arteries in vitro

Arch. int. Pharmacodyn.

Cholinergic mechanisms in pial vessels. Histochemistry, electron microscopy and pharmacology

Z. Zellforsch.

Pharmacological characterization of adrenergic alpha and beta receptors mediating vasomotor response of cerebral arteries in vitro

Circulat. Res.

A pharmacologic comparison of histamine receptors in isolated extracranial and intracranial arteries in vitro

Neurology (Minneap.)

Observations on the possibilities of the cellular localization of monoamines by a fluorescence method

Acta physiol. scand.

Adrenergic innervation of the pial circulation

Scand. J. clin. Lab. Invest.

Classification of adrenoreceptors (adrenergic receptors). An evaluation from the standpoint of receptor theory