title: Development of tetrahydrobiopterin and GTP cyclohydrolase in salivary glands of rats.
abstract: A significant amount of 5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4), an essential cofactor of tyrosine hydroxylase, and the activity of GTP cyclohydrolase (GTP cycl), the first and rate-limiting enzyme in BH4 biosynthesis, were found in rat salivary glands, in which adrenergic transmitters are localized, from day 4 through 56 after birth. About 90 ng of BH4 per g wet weight were determined in the glands (submandibular and sublingual) of adult rats. The levels of them which were maintained from 2 weeks after birth up to the adult stage correlated with a previous finding in the maintenance of catecholamine concentration during the same stage in rat salivary glands.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Katoh
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sueoka
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000619:Aminohydrolases / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001708:Biopterins / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism*; D006136:GTP Cyclohydrolase / Q000378:metabolism*; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D011621:Pteridines / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D011621:Pteridines; D001708:Biopterins; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase; D000619:Aminohydrolases; D006136:GTP Cyclohydrolase; C003402:sapropterin