Abstract
Summary
The ganglion stimulating properties of histamine and McN-A-343 were used to investigate whether the superior cervical ganglion becomes supersensitive to drugs following chronic denervation. Nictitating membrane contractions were used to measure ganglionic stimulation. The results strongly indicate that the chronically denervated superior cervical ganglion does not become supersensitive to either histamine or McN-A-343. The increased response of the chronically decentralized nictitating membrane following ganglionic stimulation by the two agents can be completely accounted for by an increased sensitivity of the membrane to relased postganglionic norepinephrine. It is suggested that the classical law of denervation supersensitivity of Cannon and Rosenblueth does not pertain to the superior cervical ganglion.
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