METHODS OF SYMPATHETIC DEGENERATION AND ALTERATION

The role of the sympathetic nervous system in health and disease has o ften been elucidated by inducing changes in, or degeneration of sympat hetic neural pathways. Several methods of inducing peripheral lesions have been created from surgical removal, NGF depletion, auto-immune an d chemical destruction to novel approaches using immunotoxins and tran sgenic animals. This review compares these methods in terms of their m echanism and specificity. The advantages and disadvantages of these te chniques are discussed.