Dopamine-beta-hydroxylase activity in normal and sympathectomized carotid bodies.

ABSTRACT

Normal carotid bodies excised from cats showed DBH values of 5.04 + or - 0.53 nmol [(3)H]octopamine formed/h/100 mg tissue (x + or - S.E. ). Values from sympathectomized carotid bodies were not significantly different. While the ganglio-glomerular nerves, providing the sympathetic innervation of the carotid bifurcation, had a high DBH level, this was low in the carotid sinus nerve, providing its sensory innervation. Glomeral DBH may be contained in a special type of noradrenergic glomus cells, distinct from the most common dopaminergic glomus cells.