Dopamine-β-hydroxylase activity in normal and sympathectomized carotid bodies

Normal carotid bodies excised from cats showed DBH values of 5.04 ± 0.53 nmol [ 3H]octopamine formed/h/100 mg tissue ( x ̄ ± 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.