The term catecholaminergic cell groups refers to collections of neurons in the central nervous system that have been demonstrated by histochemical fluorescence to contain one of the neurotransmitters dopamine or norepinephrine. Thus, it represents the combination of dopaminergic cell groups and noradrenergic cell groups ( Kitahama-19946 ). Some authors include in this category 'putative' adrenergic cell groups, collections of neurons that stain for PNMT, the enzyme that converts norepinephrine to epinephrine (adrenalin) ( Kitahama-1994 ).
Also known as: catecholamine cell groups, catecholaminergic cell groups, catecholamine-containing cell groups, catecholaminergic nuclei
Chapter 20 in Phylogeny and Development of Catecholamine Sytems in the CNS of Vertebrates, WJAJ Smeets and A Reiner (eds), University Press, Cambridge, England, 1994
Source Title:
Catecholamines in the CNS of vertebrates: current concepts of evolution and functional significance
are collections of neurons in the central nervous system that have been demonstrated by histochemical fluorescence to contain one of the neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine ( Fuxe-1970 ) or epinephrine ( Kitahama-1994 ). They are classified respectively as serotonergic cell groups, dopaminergic cell groups, noradrenergic cell groups and adrenergic cell groups.
