title: Immunohistochemical demonstration of the synthesis enzyme for nitric oxide and of comediators in neurons and chromaffin cells of the human adrenal medulla.
abstract: Within the human adrenal medulla immunoreactivity for the nitric oxide (NO)-generating enzyme nitric oxide synthase (NOS) was demonstrated in neurons, nerve fibres and chromaffin cells. Correlation of NOS-immunoreactivity with immunostaining for the peptides neuropeptide Y, somatostatin, substance P or vasoactive intestinal polypetide and for the catecholamine synthesis-enzyme tyrosine hydroxylase, respectively, in nerve cell bodies revealed colocalization of NOS only with substance P. Sparse intramedullary NOS-immunoreactive varicose nerve fibres associated with blood vessels or with chromaffin tissue were devoid of immunoreactivities for tyrosine hydroxylase or for the investigated peptides. Small NOS-immunolabeled cells belonged to the catecholamine-containing chromaffin cell population and costored VIP, but were distinct from the somatostatin- or neuropeptide Y- immunostained chromaffin subpopulations. The localization of NOS in distinct structural components of the human adrenal medulla indicates that NO is produced in different cell types and may reflect a differential role of this messenger system in autonomic control of adrenal gland function.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Heym
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Colombo-Benckmann
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mayer
mesh_terms: D000313:Adrenal Medulla / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology*; D000328:Adult; D000594:Amino Acid Oxidoreductases / Q000032:analysis*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase
chemical_list: D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D000594:Amino Acid Oxidoreductases