CYTOPHOTOMETRIC STUDY ON THE CHROMAFFIN REACTION, THE IODATE REACTION AND FORMALIN-INDUCED FLUORESCENCE AS INDICATORS OF ADRENALINE AND NORADRENALINE CONCENTRATIONS IN THE ADRENAL MEDULLA

Variable depletion of adrenal catecholamines was caused in rats by injections of reserpine and muscular work. The intensities of the chromaffin reaction, the iodate reaction and formalin-induced fluorescence in adrenal sections were measured by cytophotometry and compared with chemically determined concentrations of adrenaline and noradrenaline in the adrenal medulla. A close correlation was observed between the optical density of the chromaffin reaction and the total catecholamine concentration, as well as between the intensity of the formalin-induced fluorescence, the optical density of the iodate reaction and the noradrenaline concentration.