Three essential factors of the sympathetic nervous functions, sympathetic nervous tone (β-, α-secretion), adrenoceptor sensitivity (β-, α-sensitivity) and adrenergic manifestations, were assessed integratedly by the sequential administration of specific adrenoceptor agonists and blockers. The examination procedures were designed to provide all parameters under the blockade of the autonomic regulation without affecting the basic sympathetic nervous functions.
Decrease in β- and α-secretion associated with the increase in β- and α-sensitivity in patients with diabetic neuropathy, idiopathic orthostatic hypotension and cervical radiation myelopathy were exactly compatible with the autonomic dysfunctions of them and convinced the validity of the methods. Synchronized firings of the sympathetic nerves of the cardiovascular system and harmonized regulation of the adrenoceptor sensitivity were shown by the positive correlations between β- and α-secretion and between β- and α-sensitivity, respectively. Negative correlations between “secretion” and “sensitivity” over wide ranges of these parameters suggested that the concept of denervation hypersensitivity was not specific for patients with organic autonomic neuropathies but was commonly avairable for usual subjects in proportion to the sympathetic nervous tone of the individual subject.