Most ganglion cells in the rat adrenal medulla are noradrenergic.
Nerve cells are located in the rat adrenal medulla but their transmitter phenotype has not yet been determined. In-situ hybridization histochemistry was used to investigate ganglion cells with reference to their putative transmitter. High expression of dopamine beta-hydroxylase (DBH), neuropeptide tyrosine (NPY) and nerve growth factor receptor (NGF-R) mRNA was found in many of these neurons, whereas no detectable labelling was seen using a probe complementary to choline acetyltransferase mRNA. Chromaffin cells were also labelled with the DBH, NPY and NGF-R probes. We propose that the DBH/NPY/NGF-R-positive adrenal medullary ganglion cells are sympathetic postganglionic neurons producing noradrenaline. However, other types of ganglion neurons may also be present in the adrenal medulla.
Dagerlind
A
A
Department of Histology and Neurobiology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
Goldstein
M
M
Hökfelt
T
T
D000313:Adrenal Medulla / Q000294:innervation*; D000818:Animals; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004299:Dopamine beta-Hydroxylase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005724:Ganglia / Q000737:chemistry*; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000187:drug effects; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D008297:Male; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000378:metabolism; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000032:analysis*; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D010641:Phenotype; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D014048:Tolonium Chloride
D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D009478:Neuropeptide Y; D014048:Tolonium Chloride; D004299:Dopamine beta-Hydroxylase; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase; D009638:Norepinephrine