title: Axonal transport of adrenaline, noradrenaline and phenylethanolamine-N-methyl transferase (PNMT) in sympathetic neurons of the cod, Gadus morhua.
abstract: The axonal transport of adrenaline, noradrenaline and phenylethanolamine-N-methyl transferase (PNMT) has been studied in vivo in sympathetic neurons of the splanchnic nerve in the cod, Gadus morhua. Adrenaline and noradrenaline are transported at a mean axonal transport rate of 16 mm/day. After correction for a non-mobile fraction of adrenaline and noradrenaline, which does not contribute to the amine accumulation proximal to a ligature, a maximal rate of transport was calculated to about 45 mm/day for both amines. The increased level of catecholamines in front of a ligature could be depleted by reserpine treatment, which strongly suggests that both amines are stored in granules. PNMT is transported at a slow rate of 2 mm/day. The subcellular distribution of the cod PNMT was exclusively non-particular. The cod PNMT was further characterized by studying substrate specificity, temperature and pH optima. It is concluded that adrenaline and noradrenaline, stored in granules, are transported in a proximo-distal direction at a high rate compared to PNMT.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001370:Axonal Transport; D001369:Axons / Q000201:enzymology; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000378:metabolism*; D005399:Fishes / Q000378:metabolism*; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D008780:Methyltransferases / Q000378:metabolism*; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000378:metabolism*; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D008780:Methyltransferases; D009638:Norepinephrine; D004837:Epinephrine