Catecholamine distribution in adult rat testis.

Catecholamine distribution in the adult rat testis was examined using a sensitive radioenzymatic method. Norepinephrine was present in the capsule and the interstitial fluid, in higher concentrations than dopamine, while in the interstitial cell preparations only norepinephrine was found. Epinephrine was undetectable in all testicular compartments investigated. No catecholamines were found in the seminiferous tubules. Testicular denervation caused a significant decrease in capsular catecholamines, confirming the neural origin of these amines.