The intraneuronal distribution of noradrenaline and the transport and life-span of amine storage granules in the sympathetic adrenergic neuron

Release of dopamine beta-hydroxylase and chromogranin A upon stimulation of the splenic nerve

Two proteins present in noradrenergic vesicles of the splenic nerve (dopamine beta-hydroxylase and chromogranin A) are released into the perfusate from the spleen when the splenic nerve is stimulated. Experiments in which drugs were added to the perfusion fluid showed that the proteins were released from terminals of the splenic nerve. There was a correlation between the amounts of the proteins released and the quantity of noradrenaline released; and the release process was dependent upon calcium. It is suggested that the proteins are released from the large dense-cored vesicles present in the terminals of the splenic nerve, and that secretion from these vesicles occurs by exocytosis.

Antidiuretic effects of alpha- and beta-adrenoceptor agonists microinjected into the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus in a water-loaded and ethanol-anesthetized rat

Effects of catecholamines microinjected into the paraventricular nucleus in the hypothalamus on urine outflow in a rat which was loaded with water and anesthetized with ethanol were studied. L-Norepinephrine, L-epinephrine and L-isoproterenol induced potent antidiuresis with similar time courses to each other. The ED50 values for L-norepinephrine, L-epinephrine and L-isoproterenol were approximately 5, 10 and 5 nmol, respectively. The D-isomer of isoproterenol demonstrated no significant antidiuretic activity. The effect of L-norepinephrine was inhibited strongly by premicroinjection of alpha- and beta-adrenoceptor antagonists. The effect of DL-isoproterenol was inhibited strongly by beta-adrenoceptor antagonists, but not affected by alpha-adrenoceptor antagonist. Premicroinjection of a muscarinic antagonist, atropine, partially inhibited anti-diuretic effects induced by L-norepinephrine and DL-isoproterenol. Visceral functions other than urine outflow such as mean blood pressure, respiration rate, heart rate and rectal temperature were not significantly altered when the urine outflow decreased down to 20-30% of the control by microinjection of L-norepinephrine and DL-isoproterenol. The results demonstrated that stimulation of alpha- and beta-adrenoceptor in the paraventricular nucleus induced potent antidiuretic effects, partial inhibition of which by atropine suggested a possible presynaptic facilitation of the release of ACh by the stimulation of the adrenoceptors.

Antidiuretic effects of alpha- and beta-adrenoceptor agonists microinjected into the hypothalamic supraoptic nucleus in a water-loaded and ethanol-anesthetized rat

Effects of catecholamines microinjected into the supraoptic nucleus in the hypothalamus on urine outflow in rats which were loaded with water and anesthetized with ethanol were studied. L-Norepinephrine, L-epinephrine and L-isoproterenol induced potent antidiuresis, showing similar time courses to each other. The ED50 values for L-norepinephrine, L-epinephrine and L-isoproterenol were approx. 25, 20 and 5 nmol, respectively. The D-isomer of isoproterenol demonstrated no significant antidiuretic activity. The effect of L-norepinephrine was inhibited strongly by preinjection of alpha- and beta-adrenoceptor antagonists. The effect of DL-isoproterenol was inhibited strongly by beta-adrenoceptor antagonists, but not affected by alpha-adrenoceptor antagonist. Among the three catecholamines, only L-epinephrine induced a tachyphylaxis in the antidiuretic effect. Visceral functions other than urine outflow such as blood pressure, respiration rate, heart rate and rectal temperature were not significantly changed by microinjecting antidiuretic doses of the catecholamines. The results demonstrated that stimulation of alpha- and beta-adrenoceptors in the supraoptic nucleus induced a potent antidiuretic effect.

Immunohistochemical localizatio of protein components of catecholamine storage vesicles

1. The distribution of specific proteins in sympathetic neurones has been examined by immunofluorescent histology using antibodies prepared against soluble protein components of the catecholamine storage vesicles of the adrenal medulla.2. Two antigen preparations were separated by ion exchange chromatography of the soluble proteins released on osmotic lysis of catecholamine storage vesicles which had been isolated by centrifugation from homogenates of sheep adrenal medulla. One fraction (AgDH) had high dopamine-beta-hydroxylase activity, while another (AgCB), consisting of the bulk of the protein, had some capacity to bind catecholamines. On disk gel electrophoresis the antigens ran as single bands with very different mobilities.3. Antisera (AsDH) and (AsCB) produced in rabbits to the two antigens were shown to react specifically with their antigens by immunodiffusion and electrophoresis in agarose.4. Indirect immunofluorescent staining of tissue sections was achieved by layering first the rabbit anti-sera, followed by goat anti-rabbit globulin serum which had been conjugated with fluorescein isothiocyanate.5. The adrenal medulla and the cell bodies of sympathetic ganglia showed the most intense green fluorescence with the immune rabbit sera, and hardly stained when pre-immune serum from the same animal was used. The reactivity of the antisera could be abolished by incubation with the corresponding antigen.6. The preterminal and terminal axons of sympathetic nerves also stained specifically but less intensely with both antisera. When the nerves were ligated for up to 24 hr, the portion immediately proximal to the constriction showed an enhanced reaction to the antisera.7. The results provide evidence that sympathetic neurones contain proteins immunologically identical to those involved in the synthesis and storage of noradrenaline in the adrenal medulla, and support the concept that granular vesicles are synthesized in the perikaryon of the neurone and are transported somatofugally in the axon.

The uptake and retention of [3H]noradrenaline in rat sciatic nerves after ligation

The uptake and retention of [3H]noradrenaline (3H-NA) was examined in sciatic nerves of albino rats. In the 1 cm part of nerve proximal to a 12 hr ligation the uptake and retention of exogenous noradrenaline was about 4 times the uptake in 1 cm of normal unligated nerves. Treatment with reserpine 10 hr before killing caused a marked decrease in the estimated amount of 3H-NA, while injection of nialamide 15 min before 3H-NA administration in ligated, reserpine-treated animals caused a somewhat larger uptake and retention of 3H-NA in the nerve part above the ligation. Protriptyline, a blocker of the “membrane pump”, was approximately 3 times less effective in 12 hr-ligated nerves than in unligated nerves, indicating a reduced efficiency of the “membrane pump” in the distended axons above a ligation.