Catecholamines in Turkeys with High or Low Blood Pressure: Effects of Tyrosine Hydroxylase Inhibitor and Ganglionic Blocker

Abstract

Following six generations of genetic selection for hyper- or hypotensive turkeys, tissues were assayed for catecholamines. The concentrations of norepinephrine and epinephrine were essentially the same in both groups except for the posterior aorta and the left ventricle. The latter tissues showed higher concentration of norepinephrine in the hypertensive birds.The administration of α-methyl-L-tyrosine or mecamylamine reduced norepinephrine to a greater extent in hyper- than in hypotensive turkeys. The results suggest that hypertension may be caused by increased rate of norepinephrine release.