Exposure to stressful stimuli is known to activate the peripheral sympathetic nervous system and the adrenal gland. In this study, we evaluated the effects of high-salt diet on the mouse adrenal medulla using the tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunohistoc...
Exposure to stressful stimuli is known to activate the peripheral sympathetic nervous system and the adrenal gland. In this study, we evaluated the effects of high-salt diet on the mouse adrenal medulla using the tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunohistochemistry and the transmission electron microscopic observation. Immunoreactivity for TH was increased after high-salt diet. Especially, the TH immunoreactivity was stronger in 4 days high-salt diet mouse than that of 4 weeks. TH immunoreactivity was mainly present in the cytoplasm and granules of the noradrenaline cells. After high-salt diet, the noradrenaline cells exhibited the ultrastructural alterations consisting of areas of empty cytoplasm, expanded granules, and some damaged mitochondria. These results suggest that high-salt diet may be a factor of stressful stimuli on the mouse.