Studies of catecholamines in amyloidosis.

Amyloidosis was induced in 21 mice by daily injections of casein solution for four weeks. Thioflavine T staining showed that the induction of amyloidosis took place in all mice. The catecholamine (CA) content was estimated in the spleen, proximal colon and kidney. In spleen the noradrenaline (NA) content per wet weight of tissue in casein-induced amyloidosis was significantly (p less than 0.01) lower than in the controls but this reduction was not apparent because of the huge increase in the weight of amyloid spleens. In the proximal colon and kidney the NA content did not differ from the control values. By fluorescence histochemistry the adrenergic fibres appeared to be well maintained in the spleen, duodenum and proximal colon in casein-induced amyloidosis. The CA content of rectal mucosal biopsies from five patients suffering from amyloidosis was compared with that from seven control persons. There was no significant difference in NA content. The present results suggest that in amyloid disease detectable alterations in the CA content or such morphological changes in adrenergic nerve fibres, which can be detected by fluorescence histochemistry take place only in the most advanced disease, if at all.