Chemosensitivity and plasticity of paraganglionic cells in the rat coeliac-superior mesenteric complex (CSMC) were investigated at a basal state of normoxia (21% 0,) and after long-term moderate hypoxia (10% 02, 14 days). Chemical sympathectomy previous to hypoxia was performed to destroy principal ganglionic neurons and thus to allow measurement of the norepinephrine and dopamine content of paraganglionic cells.
At the basal state, the CSMC contained dopaminergic (TH '/DBH-) and noradrenergic (TH+/ DBHt) paraganglionic cells, the majority being of the noradrenergic type. After 14 days of hypoxia, this ratio was reversed and dopaminergic cells predominated, as indicated by a twofold increase of TH' cells and a twofold decrease of DBH+ cells. Biochemically, hypoxia produced an increase in the content (1.6-fold) and utilization (1.4-fold) of dopamine as well as a smaller increase in the content of norepinephrine, with no change in its utilization rate. The dopaminergic activation induced by hypoxia persisted after sympathectomy with guanethidine.
It is concluded that paraganglionic cells in the CSMC display a chemosensitive function. Furthermore, our findings indicate that paraganglionic cells are differentially affected by hypoxia, depending on their distribution and the nature of their neuromodulators. The alterations induced by hypoxia point out the phenotypic plasticity developed by paraganglionic cells in adaptation to hypoxia and further demonstrate the functional heterogeneity of this autonomic cell population in the rat CSMC.