title: Noradrenaline-degrading activity of monoamine oxidase is localized in noradrenergic neurons of the locus coeruleus of the rat.
abstract: We found intense monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity in rat locus coeruleus (LC) neurons by means of a histochemical method using noradrenaline as a substrate. This MAO activity was abolished by clorgyline, a specific inhibitor of MAO type A. Fluorescence immunohistochemistry for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) combined with MAO histochemistry revealed intense MAO activity in virtually all TH-immunoreactive LC neurons (i.e. noradrenergic neurons). The results indicate that noradrenaline produced in LC neurons might be degraded by MAO type A activity.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003010:Clorgyline / Q000494:pharmacology; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D008125:Locus Coeruleus / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase / Q000378:metabolism*; D008996:Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014018:Tissue Distribution / Q000502:physiology; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000378:metabolism