Peptide regulation of adrenal medullary function.
The discovery of peptides in the splanchnic nerve and adrenal gland, and their co-existence with conventional neurotransmitters raises questions about their possible functional roles in catecholamine (CA) secretion and gene transcription in the adrenal gland. Short-term, stress-induced CA secretion is regulated biphasically by substance P (SP) which inhibits acetylcholine (ACh) action at SP greater than 10(-6) M and facilitates CA secretion in response to metabolic and physical stressors, ACh or electrical stimulation at SP less than 10(-6) M. Long-term, gene transcription of phenylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase (PNMT) is exerted by glucocorticoids, and gene transcription of Proenkephalin-A by agents such as histamine, angiotensin II and VIP that increase cyclic AMP (cAMP). The final products of these two genes, adrenaline and Met-enkephalin and congeners, are co-stored in chromaffin granules of adrenaline cells but gene expression of these products is clearly under differential control.
Department of Biochemistry, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
B G
BG
Livett
P D
PD
Marley
D C
DC
Wan
X F
XF
Zhou
D000313:Adrenal Medulla / Q000187:drug effects / Q000294:innervation / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000378:metabolism*; D002417:Cattle; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000494:pharmacology; D004745:Enkephalins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology; D010625:Phenylethanolamine N-Methyltransferase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013373:Substance P / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*
D002395:Catecholamines; D004745:Enkephalins; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D011498:Protein Precursors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C029992:proenkephalin; D013373:Substance P; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D010625:Phenylethanolamine N-Methyltransferase