Evidence for the presence of enkephalin in catecholaminergic neurones of cat locus coeruleus.
The distribution of enkephalin (Enk) and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunoreactivity in the cat locus coeruleus (LC) has been studied with indirect immunofluorescence technique. After intratissular injection of colchicine numerous enkephalin-containing cell bodies were seen throughout the rostrocaudal extent of the LC complex. Comparison of 8 micrometers-thick consecutive sections treated with antiserum to Enk of TH, a specific marker for catecholaminergic neurons, shows that most cells containing TH also present Enk immunoreactivity. This study provides the first evidence for the coexistence of enkephalin and catecholamine in CNS neurons.
D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D004723:Endorphins / Q000378:metabolism*; D004744:Enkephalin, Methionine; D004745:Enkephalins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D008125:Locus Coeruleus / Q000201:enzymology*; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000378:metabolism; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000378:metabolism*
D004723:Endorphins; D004745:Enkephalins; D004744:Enkephalin, Methionine; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase; D009638:Norepinephrine