A comparative study of the pharmacological properties of the positive potential recorded from the superior cervical ganglia of several species.

Sucrose gap recording technique was employed to record surface potentials from superior cervical ganglia (SCGs) of several species. Repetitive preganglionic stimulation (30 Hz, 1-2 sec) elicited in curarized rabbit, rat and cat SCGs, a biphasic response as the initial slow positive (P) potential, was followed by a late negative (LN) potential. In curarized guinea-pig SCG, a LN response with no detectable P potential was observed. Neostigmine (0.5-1 microM) increased the amplitude and duration of the P and LN responses in the majority of the rabbit, rat and cat SCGs. LN response of guinea-pig SCG was first enhanced by neostigmine; subsequently, it was converted into a hyperpolarizing potential. Alpha receptor antagonists, phenoxybenzamine, phentolamine and dihydroergotamine, and a beta receptor antagonist, propranolol, did not appreciably alter the P and LN responses of the rabbit, cat and rat SCG or neostigmine-induced hyperpolarization of the guinea-pig SCG. Dopaminergic receptor antagonists, haloperidol, chlorpromazine and metoclopramide, caused no significant depression of the P and LN responses in the rabbit SCG. Atropine (1 microM) consistently abolished the P and/or LN of all these ganglia, as well as the neostigmine-induced hyperpolarization of the guinea-pig SCG. These results demonstrate that muscarinic receptors are involved in the generation of P and LN potentials of mammalian sympathetic ganglia, while the adrenergic and disynaptic nature of P response remains to be clarified. Furthermore, there appears to be no correlation between the generation of P potential and elevation of cyclic AMP in the SCG.