Domperidone as a Tool to Assess the Role of Dopamine within Carotid Body Chemoreception

摘要: The carotid bodies are composite receptors, i.e. hypoxia apparently acts upon glomus cells which synaptically apposed to the sensory endings of primary afferent neurons, responsible for conveying information medullary centers. Considerable effort has been directed determine transmitter(s) involved in signal transference between and chemosensory nerve terminals. Dopamine is putative transmitter that received more attention, because following observations: i) characterized by their abundance dense-core granules strong formaldehyde-induced fluorescence, indicative a high concentration catecholamines (see Hess, 1975); ii) dopamine prevalent catecholamine body most species studied Fidone et al, 1983); iii) possess enzymes required synthesis as well transporter mechanisms uptake its precursors Eyzaguirre & Zapata, 1984); iv) content rat situ reduced direct proportion severity duration (Hellstrom 1976; Hanbauer Hellstrom, 1978); v) rabbit vitro hypoxic superfusates (Leitner, 1993); vi) induces release from cat superfused (Fidone 1982; Rigual 1986; see also Zapata 1996). These observations led proposal may serve excitatory terminals Gonzalez 1994).