Effect of denervation on the leucine-enkephalin content of the adrenal gland of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP).
Enkephalins are known to inhibit the release of catecholamines from sympathetic nerve endings. Thus a difference in their turnover rate between SHRSP and normotensive rats (WKY) could contribute to the altered sympathetic activity in SHRSP. One week after denervation which inhibits release of leucine-enkephalin (L-ENK), but not synthesis and processing of the L-ENK precursor, L-ENK increased with the same relative extent in both strains of rats, starting from a lower basal concentration in 7 weeks old SHRSP. In adult rats there was no difference between SHRSP and WKY before and after denervation respectively. It is concluded that the lower content of L-ENK in young SHRSP is caused by an increased release.
D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000032:analysis* / Q000294:innervation; D000313:Adrenal Medulla / Q000032:analysis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D003714:Denervation; D004743:Enkephalin, Leucine / Q000032:analysis*; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000032:analysis; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011918:Rats, Inbred SHR; D013045:Species Specificity; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology*
D004743:Enkephalin, Leucine; D004837:Epinephrine