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The influence of some sympatholytic, parasympatholytic and serotonin-synthesis-inhibiting agents on the ultrastructure of the rabbit pineal organ

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Summary

The influence of certain drugs on the ultrastructure of rabbit pinealocytes was studied. The results obtained after administration of p-chlorophenylalanine and p-chloroamphetamine support the hypothesis proposed earlier that the smooth endoplasmic reticulum in the light pinealocytes is involved in indoleamine synthesis.

The administration of either one of the sympatholytic agents, 6-hydroxydopamine or α-methyl-p-tyrosine, induced typical fine structural changes corresponding to those observed after surgical sympathectomy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Electron Microscopy, Netherlands Central Institute for Brain Research, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    H. J. Romijn

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  1. H. J. Romijn
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The author wishes to thank Prof. Dr. J. Ariëns Kappers for his advice, Miss. M.T. Mud and Mr. P.S. Wolters for their skilled assistance and Mrs. S.W. Lust-Bosboom for typing the manuscript.

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Romijn, H.J. The influence of some sympatholytic, parasympatholytic and serotonin-synthesis-inhibiting agents on the ultrastructure of the rabbit pineal organ. Cell Tissue Res. 167, 167–177 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00224325

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00224325

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