Localization of enkephalin- and neurotensin-like immunoreactivities in cat adrenal medulla.
Enkephalin (ENK)- and neurotensin (NT)-immunoreactivities (IR) were localized in cat adrenal medulla using immunocytochemistry. ENK was localized mainly in adrenaline cells, 70%-80% of which were heavily labelled. About 5%-10% of the noradrenaline cells were ENK-immunoreactive (IR). A dense network of ENK-IR nerves was localized among adrenaline cells. NT was localized only in the noradrenaline cells, 60%-70% of which were immunoreactive. NT- and ENK-IR were localized in separate noradrenaline cells. A dense network of NT-IR nerves was restricted among noradrenaline cells. The present findings confirm that ENK- and NT-like peptides are localized in separate adrenal medullary cells and demonstrate that also the preganglionic nerves are divided in subpopulations according to their neuropeptide content. These nerves have a selective localization among adrenaline and noradrenaline cells and may have physiological significance in the control of secretion of catecholamines and neuropeptides from adrenal medulla.
Pelto-Huikko
M
M
Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Tampere, Finland.
Salminen
T
T
Hervonen
A
A
D000313:Adrenal Medulla / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D004745:Enkephalins / Q000032:analysis*; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000378:metabolism; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009496:Neurotensin / Q000032:analysis*; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000378:metabolism
D004745:Enkephalins; D009496:Neurotensin; D009638:Norepinephrine; D004837:Epinephrine