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.     

Alterations in the levels of cAMP and cGMP after decentralization of the rat superior cervical ganglion

Summary After cutting the preganglionic nerve trunk of the rat's superior cervical ganglion, the levels of cAMP and cGMP were measured in a postoperative period of between 3 and 21 days. After 3 days, cAMP and cGMP showed a decrease by 48 and 33% respectively, followed by a partial recovery after 7 to 21 days.This work was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (SFB 70).     

Ontogeny of the sex steroid and prolactin receptors in the male rat adrenal gland

Summary Cytosolic estrogen and androgen receptors and membrane prolactin-binding sites in the male adrenal glands showed a definite pattern during sexual development. The level of sexual steroid receptors paralleled adrenal growth, whereas prolactin binding reached its maximum value in mature rats.Lüthy, I. A., Predoctoral Fellow from the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Técnicas and Calandra, R. S., Research Career Awardee from the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Argentina.Acknowledgments. We would like to thank Mrs D. Bas and Mrs D. B. Destéfano for the skillful technical assistance and the secretarial work, respectively. This work was partially supported by the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas de la República Argentina (CONICET), and the Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica.     

Alterations in the levels of cAMP and cGMP after decentralization of the rat superior cervical ganglion.

After cutting the preganglionic nerve trunk of the rat's superior cervical ganglion, the levels of cAMP and cGMP were measured in a postoperative period of between 3 and 21 dad by a partial recovery after 7 to 21 days.     

Effects of various media on tissular and cellular structures of the superior cervical ganglion of the rat

Summary The superior cervical ganglia of the rat have been incubated in vitro for 1 h in basal medium Eagle (BME) with Hanks' salts, BME with Earle's salts, Krebs' solution and NCTC 109 medium. Comparison of the cell areas, established by a semi-automatic quantitative method, shows that the three former induce a 30–35% neuronal retraction, whereas NCTC 109 has no effect. Thus this latter medium seems the best one for studies using incubation of these cells.We are indebted to Miss M. Vio, Mrs J. Bottini, Mr C. Cataldo and Mr P. Cau for their helpful assistance.     

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.     

Effects of various media on tissular and cellular structures of the superior cervical ganglion of the rat.

The superior cervical ganglia of the rat have been incubated in vitro for 1 h in basal medium Eagle (BME) with Hanks' salts, BME with Earle's salts, Kreb's solution and NCTC 109 medium. Comparison of the cell areas, established by a semi-automatic quantitative method, shows that the three former induce a 30--35% neuronal retraction, whereas NCTC 109 has no effect. Thus this latter medium seems the best one for studies using incubation of these cells.     

Lack of pressor effect of dopamine in the pentobarbital-anesthetized rat

Summary The blood pressure and heart rate responses to intravenous dopamine infusion at 2.5, 5.0 and 10.0 g·min^–1·100 g^–1 were studied in conscious and pentobarbital-anesthetized Sprague — Dawley rats. In the conscious rats, dopamine caused a significant dose-related increase in the mean arterial blood pressure which was abolished in the anesthetized rats. The heart rate increased significantly only at the highest dose infused. The responses to equipressor doses of noradrenaline (40 ng·min^–1·100 g^–1) and phenylephrine (1.0 g·min^–1·100 g^–1) were also suppressed in the anesthetized rats. The results suggest that pentobarbital anesthesia depresses the blood pressure response to dopamine infusion in the rat through a depression of activation of alpha-adrenoceptors.16 June 1986     

Effect of hydrocortisone on the ultrastructure of the small,granule-containing cells in the superior cervical ganglion of the newborn rat

Zusammenfassung Hydrocortison-Injektionen führen bei neugeborenen Ratten zu einer Vermehrung der kleinen granulahaltigen Zellen im Ganglion cervicale craniale und zu einer Vermehrung der granulären Vesikeln im Zytoplasma dieser Zellen.

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University of Melbourne Senior Research Fellow September 1971–August 1972. Present address: Department of Anatomy, University of Helsinki, Siltavuorenpenger, Helsinki, Finland 00170.

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In receipt of a grant from the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia.

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Sunshine Foundation and Rowden White Overseas Research Fellow September 1971–August 1972. Present address: Department of Anatomy, University of Helsinki, Siltavuorenpenger, Helsinki, Finland 00170.     

Ontogeny of the sex steroid and prolactin receptors in the male rat adrenal gland

Cytosolic estrogen and androgen receptors and membrane prolactin-binding sites in the male adrenal glands showed a definite pattern during sexual development. The level of sexual steroid receptors paralleled adrenal growth, whereas prolactin binding reached its maximum value in mature rats.     

Histochemical and cytochemical observations on the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) localization in the superior cervical ganglion (SCG) after preganglionic sympathectomy of the neonatal rat

Summary Results of histochemical and cytochemical reactions show that after the section of preganglionic nerve trunk performed in newborn animals, the appearance and the individual increase in AChE activity in non-innervated nerve cells follow the pattern of normally innervated ganglion cell.     

Effects of selective dopamine D1 and D2 antagonists on male rat sexual behavior

Summary The effects of selective dopamine (DA) D₁ and D₂ antagonists on male rat sexual behavior were investigated. The D₁ antagonist (+)SCH-23390, 25–100 g kg^–1 s.c. –20 min, and the D₂ antagonist raclopride, 0.1–1.6 mg kg^–1 s.c., –20 min, decreased both the number of mounts and intromissions preceding ejaculation. No statistically significant effects in the time up to ejaculation or in the time up to the first intromission were noted, whereas both compounds produced a statistically significant increase in the post-ejaculatory interval. The effect can generally be characterized as psychomotor inhibition, and no evidence was obtained for a specific role of DA D₁ or D₂ receptors in the mediation of male rat sexual behavior.The expert technical assistance of Ms Elisabeth Wallin is gratefully acknowledged. The figures were skilfully prepared by Ms Madelene Kröning at the Department of Psychology. This study received support from the Bank of Sweden tercentenary Foundation, The Swedish MRC and Wilhelm and Martina Lundgren Foundation.     

Gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric identification of epinine in rat superior cervical ganglia and formation in vivo

Summary Epinine was identified in rat superior cervical ganglia by a gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric method. The deuterated methyl group of i.v. administered labeled methionine was incorporated into epinine at a slow rate, although epinephrine-CD₃ was rapidly formed. These results indicated that epinine found in the ganglia is not a precursor of epinephrine.Acknowledgments. We wish to thank Dr Magda Claeys for helpful discussions.     

Deficiency of membrane-bound dipeptidyl aminopeptidase IV in a certain rat strain

Summary The activity of membrane-bound dipeptidyl aminopeptidase IV (EC 3.4.14.5) was found to be markedly reduced in the Fischer 344 rat strain compared with that in the Wistar strain. Analysis of membrane proteins by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Ouchterlony immunodiffusion revealed the specific absence of this enzyme molecule in the Fischer 344 strain.     

Histochemical and cytochemical observations on the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) localization in the superior cervical ganglion (SCG) after preganglionic sympathectomy of the neonatal rat.

Results of histochemical and cytochemical reactions show that after the section of preganglionic nerve trunk performed in newborn animals, the appearance and the individual increase in AChE activity in non-innervated nerve cells follow the pattern of normally innervated ganglion cell.     

Molecular forms of acetylcholinesterase in the chicken ciliary ganglion; changes after denervation, axotomy and double section]

Four main molecular forms of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), with sedimentation coefficients of 5, 7.5, 11.5 and 20 S, are found in Chicken ciliary ganglion. After denervation, the loss in 11.5 and 20 S forms occuring in 48 hrs coincides with the disappearance of presynaptic structures. In contrast, axotomy induces an early and durable increase in 7.5 S form. From these results, it is inferred that 11.5 and 20 S forms are predominant in presynaptic structures and 7.5 S form is mainly postsynaptic. In addition, the effects observed after simultaneous denervation and axotomy show a reciprocal control between pre- and postsynaptic elements. Finally, a trans-synaptic effect is exerted on 20 S AChE in controlateral ganglion after preganglionic sections.