Delay by drugs of adrenergic nerve degeneration after proximal or distal sympathectomy of the submaxillary gland.

1. Degeneration of nerve terminals of the submaxillary gland of the rat proceeds at a faster rate after crushing adrenergic nerves close to the gland than after ganglionectomy. 2. Bretylium, pargyline, nialamide and clorgyline delayed degeneration to the same extent after either type of denervation. 3. Chlorpromazine and pentobarbitone also delayed adrenergic degeneration, effect related to the hypothermia induced by these drugs. 4. Colchicine applied on the nerve trunk innervating the right gland delayed not only degeneration of the ipsilateral nerve terminals but the contralateral gland as well. 5. From the data obtained it seems probable that the drugs tested delay adrenergic nerve degeneration at the levels of nerve terminals. This effect is not related to lysosomal stabilization.