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.