title: Chromatographic and immunochemical characterization of neurotensin in cat adrenal gland and its release during splanchnic nerve stimulation.
abstract: A subpopulation of norepinephrine-containing cells in the cat adrenal medulla contain neurotensin (NT) immunoreactive material. Using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and radioimmunoassay with region-specific antisera we have demonstrated that electrical stimulation of the splanchnic nerve releases NT and its metabolites NT(1-8) and NT(1-12) from cat adrenal gland into the circulation. Blood samples from anesthetized cats were simultaneously collected from the adrenolumbar vein and femoral artery over a 10-min period prior to and during splanchnic nerve stimulation. Trains of stimuli (15 Hz/10V) were applied at 30-s intervals over 10 min. Plasma samples were extracted, run on HPLC and column fractions assayed with C- und N-terminal directed antisera. During splanchnic nerve stimulation unchanged. Concomitant with the increase in NT was a two- to threefold increase in the levels of NT(1-8) and NT(1-12). The chromatographic profiles of extracted adrenal glands showed a major peak of immunoreactive material with the same retention time as NT (18.6 +/- 3.0 pmol/g weight wet of tissue) as well as a small peaks on NT(1-8) (0.96 +/- 0.18 pmol/g) and NT(1-12) (2.05 +/- 0.1 pmol/g). HPLC analysis of a tryptic digest of the NT-like material gave 1.0 equivalent of NT(1-8) and NT(9-13). These results are consistent with the presence of NT in adrenal tissue and its release and metabolism during stimulation of the splanchnic nerve.
mesh_terms: D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D008297:Male; D009496:Neurotensin / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000032:analysis; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D013153:Splanchnic Nerves / Q000502:physiology*; D014357:Trypsin
chemical_list: D010446:Peptide Fragments; D009496:Neurotensin; D014357:Trypsin