Changes in adrenergic and cholinergic innervation of the external genitalia in alcohol and drug intoxication

Eighteen cadavers of persons, who died of acute and chronic alcohol and drug intoxication (ephedron-addiction), were used to study the changes in the spinal nerve plexuses and external genitals. The activity of acetylcholinesterase and of NADPH-diaphorase was determined histochemically; the adrenergic nerve fibers were detected by a glyoxyl-acid technique. Rectified changes in the relative density of adrenal-cholinergic- and nitroxydergic structures and in the activity of mediators in different intoxications were found. The chronic intoxication by alcohol and ephedron was accompanied by a reduced activity of enzymes involved in the metabolism of acetylcholine, nitric oxide and catecholamines. A lower density was observed in the nerve fibers that contained the examined substances. The results can be used as an additional criterion in evaluating the male sexual-function status.