Sympathetic ganglion

Ganglionic blocking agent. A drug that blocks neurotransmission at the nicotinic receptors of the sympathetic ganglia, thus blocking vascular reflexes. 

Peripheral GI and vascular smooth muscle, sympathetic ganglia... 

VMAT1 is expressed in the adrenal medulla, by small intensely fluorescent cells in sympathetic ganglia, and by other nonneural cells that release monoamines. In contrast, VMAT2 is expressed by neuronal populations in the nervous system. The substrate specificity for the two isoforms is similar, but VMAT2 has a somewhat higher apparent affinity for all monoamines than VMAT1. In addition, only VMAT2 appears able to transport histamine, consistent with its expression by mast cells. 

Autonomic neuropathy AIDS, sometimes early Subacute or chronic Orthostatic hypotension papillary abnormalities sweating dysfunction resting tachycardia Immune dysfunction macrophage-mediated sympathetic ganglia injury... 

Rimonabant is a selective CB1 receptor antagonist that is currently under investigation in phase III trials. CB1 receptors are found in the brain, adipose tissue, the GI tract, pituitary and adrenal glands, sympathetic ganglia, heart, lungs, liver, and bladder.17,18 Food cravings are diminished following inhibition of this receptor.19... 

The inhibition of two cholinesterase activities in blood can also be used to confirm exposure to certain organophosphate ester compounds. Red blood cell acetylcholinesterase is the same cholinesterase found in the gray matter of the central nervous system and motor endplates of sympathetic ganglia. Synonyms for this enzyme include specific cholinesterase, true cholinesterase, and E-type cholinesterase. Plasma cholinesterase is a distinct enzyme found in intestinal mucosa, liver, plasma, and white matter of the central nervous system. Synonyms for this enzyme include nonspecific cholinesterase, pseudocholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase, and S-type cholinesterase (Evans 1986). Nonspecific cholinesterase is thought to be a very poor indicator of neurotoxic effects. 

Massague, J., Guillette, B.J., Czech, M.P., Morgan, C.J., and Bradshaw, R.A. (1981) Identification of a nerve growth factor receptor protein in sympathetic ganglia membranes by affinity labeling. J. Biol. Chem. 256, 9419-9424. 

A variety of different types of tissue preparation are used to study neurosecretion and synaptic transmission. A classical preparation is the frog NMJ (discussed below). The brain slice has been used for many years for biochemical studies of CNS metabolism and is a useful preparation for electrophysiological studies of synaptic transmission in the CNS. Slices can be oriented to maintain the local neuronal circuitry and can be thin, 0.3 mm, to minimize anoxia. The transverse hippocampal slice is widely used as an electrophysiological preparation to study synaptic plasticity (see Ch. 53). Primary cultures of neurons from selected CNS areas and sympathetic ganglia are also frequently used. They permit excellent visual identification of individual neurons and control of the extracellular milieu, but the normal neuronal connections are disrupted. 

Ganglionic nicotinic receptors are found on postsynaptic neurons in both parasympathetic and sympathetic ganglia and in the adrenal gland. Ganglionic nicotinic receptors appear in tissues of neural crest embryonic origin and exhibit identical properties in sympathetic and parasympathetic ganglia. 

Koo, E. H., Hoffman, P. N. and Price, D. L. Levels of neurotransmitter and cytoskeletal mRNAs during nerve regeneration in sympathetic ganglia. Brain Res. 449 361-363, 1988. 

Sympathetic ganglia Pallor, occasional elevation of blood pressure. 

Rauwolfia derivatives became available in the 1950s in western medicine for the treatment of hypertension. The antihypertensive effects of rauwolfia alkaloids occur from their depletion of monoamines in adrenal chromaffin cells and sympathetic ganglia, and perhaps central neurons as well (Oates 1996). 

Toth PT, Vizi ES. (1998). Lobeline inhibits Ca2+ current in cultured neurones from rat sympathetic ganglia. EurJ Pharmacol. 363(1) 75-80. 

Nicotinic signs of intoxication include muscle weakness, tremor and fasciculations, and involuntary twitching. Muscle weakness that affects the respiratory muscles may contribute to dyspnea and cyanosis. Tachycardia may result from stimulation of sympathetic ganglia in cardiac tissue and may mask the bradycardia due to the muscarinic action on the heart. Nicotinic action at the sympathetic ganglion may also result in pallor, high blood pressure, and hyperglycemia. 

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