Occurrence of adrenaline and noradrenaline cells in the adrenal gland of the gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua)

Resumen Se investigó con microscopía óptica y electrónica y aplicando la técnica de glutaraldehido-plata la distribución y características de las células que contienen adrenalina y noradrenalina en el pinguino Papúa (Pygosceles papua).

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I thank Dr. J. H.Tramezzani and Dr. G. F.Wassermann for their important advice. I thank also Mrs.Isabel López de Farías for her technical assistance. This work was supported in part by the Argentine Antarctic Institute.     

Dopamine-beta-hydroxylase activity in adrenal gland and spleen of rats after fasting and cold exposure

Fasting (48 h) results in dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH) release both in adrenal gland and spleen, suggestive of an increase in the activity of these organs. Cold exposure (48 h) produces a dissociation of the sympathoadrenal response. When both stimuli are simultaneously employed, the DBH response suggests the preponderance of the response to fasting. Plasma DBH is decreased in all groups studied, this could be due to its half-life and the splenic DBH depletion.     

Dopamine-beta-hydroxylase activity in adrenal gland and spleen of rats after fasting and cold exposure

Summary Fasting (48 h) results in dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH) release both in adrenal gland and spleen, suggestive of an increase in the activity of these organs. Cold exposure (48 h) produces a dissociation of the, sympathoadrenal response. When both stimuli are simultaneously employed, the DBH response suggests the preponderance of the response to fasting. Plasma DBH is decreased in all groups studied, this could be due to its half-life and the splenic DBH depletion.This work was supported by a grant of Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias de la Seguridad Social, No. 83/0905.     

Effect of repeated electroconvulsive shock on plasma noradrenaline and adrenaline in man

Summary The concentration of noradrenaline (NA) and of adrenaline (A) in plasma was measured before and 3, 30 and 60 min after single and repeated electroconvulsive shocks (ECS). Single ECS resulted in an activation of the sympathoadrenal medullary system; however, after the treatment had been repeated 4 times there was evidence of a diminished response of the peripheral sympathetic nervous system in comparison to the response to the first ECS.     

Close relationship of mitochondria with intercellular junctions in the adrenaline cells of the mouse adrenal gland

Summary In adrenaline cells, junctional complexes formed by alternating gap junctions and attachment plaques were identified in close proximity to bilateral clusters of mitochondria. It is suggested that this proximity is related to a role of gap junctions in metabolic coupling.     

Molecular forms of dopamine beta-hydroxylase in rat superior cervical ganglion and adrenal gland

Summary Dopamine beta-hydroxylase (DBH) enzyme activity was associated in rat superior cervical ganglion with tetrameric DBH-A (294,000 D) and dimeric DBH-B (147,000 D) and in rat adrenal gland with DBH-A and a novel molecular form of DBH, defined as DBH-C, with a molecular weight of 125,000 D. Pretreatment of the rats with cycloheximide markedly reduced DBH activity without altering the molecular heterogeneity.     

Molecular forms of dopamine beta-hydroxylase in rat superior cervical ganglion and adrenal gland

Dopamine beta-hydroxylase (DBH) enzyme activity was associated in rat superior cervical ganglion with tetrameric DBH-A (294,000 D) and dimeric DBH-B (147,000 D) and in rat adrenal gland with DBH-A and a novel molecular form of DBH, defined as DBH-C, with a molecular weight of 125,000 D. Pretreatment of the rats with cycloheximide markedly reduced DBH activity without altering the molecular heterogeneity.     

L-threo-3,4-dihydroxyphenylserine, a noradrenaline precursor, inhibits dopamine release and metabolism in the rat striatum in vivo.

The effect of L-threo-3,4-dihydroxyphenylserine (L-threo-DOPS) on dopamine (DA) release and metabolism in the striatum was studied in freely moving rats by intracerebral microdialysis techniques. The DA level as well as the levels of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid and homovanillic acid were significantly decreased 140 min after the administration of L-threo-DOPS (50 mg/kg intraperitoneally). The results suggest that L-threo-DOPS inhibits the release and metabolism of DA in the striatum.     

The occurrence of dopamine and noradrenaline in the tubero-hypophysial system

Zusammenfassung Mit chemischer Methode wurden bei grösseren Tierarten die Mengen von Dopamin und Noradrenalin im Eminentia-mediana-Infundibulum-Gebiet, im mediobasalen Hypothalamus und im Endteil des Hypothalamus bei Mensch, Schwein und Rind genau bestimmt. Die höchste Konzentration von Dopamin wurde in Eminentia mediana und die höchste Konzentration von Noradrenalin im mediobasalen Hypothalamus gefunden.

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Aided by a grant from the Sigrid Jusélius Stiftelse.     

Octopamine,dopamine and noradrenaline content of the brain of the locust,Schistocerca gregaria

Summary The octopamine, dopamine and noradrenaline content of the brain of the locust,Schistocerca gregaria has been determined using sensitive radiochemical-enzymatic assays. Octopamine and dopamine are present in high concentration but the noradrenaline content is only 1/25 that of octopamine. Both reserpine and fusaric acid (a dopamine--hydroxylase inhibitor) produce a significant depletion of the octopamine stores.The author is a M.R.C. of Canada Fellow. Thanks are due to Drs.A. A. Boulton, A. V. Juorio, andP. H. Wu for helpful discussion.     

L-threo-3,4-dihydroxyphenylserine,a noradrenaline precursor,inhibits dopamine release and metabolism in the rat striatum in vivo

The effect of L-threo-3,4-dihydroxyphenylserine (L-threo-DOPS) on dopamine (DA) release and metabolism in the striatum was studied in freely moving rats by intracerebral microdialysis techniques. The DA level as well as the levels of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid and homovanillic acid were significantly decreased 140 min after the administration of L-threo-DOPS (50 mg/kg intraperitoneally). The results suggest that L-threo-DOPS inhibits the release and metabolism of DA in the striatum.