Catecholamines and 5-hydroxytryptamine in tissues of the rabbit exocrine pancreas.
OBJECTIVE
Norepinephrine (NE), dopamine (DA), epinephrine (Epi), and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) all modulate pancreatic exocrine secretion, yet their concentrations in specific tissues of the exocrine pancreas are unknown.


METHODS
Concentrations of catecholamines and 5-HT in rabbit pancreatic ganglia, acini, ducts and ampullae, and arteries and veins were measured using HPLC.


RESULTS
Concentrations of NE in ganglia from the head/neck region were significantly higher than those from the body (1620 +/- 220 vs. 778 +/- 179 pmol/mg protein). Acini contained little NE, DA, or 5-HT (9 +/- 2, 0.9 +/- 0.2, 13 +/- 5 pmol/mg protein). Ducts and ampullae contained NE (314 +/- 74 and 156 +/- 24 pmol/mg protein), DA (43 +/- 14 and 13 +/- 4 pmol/mg protein), Epi (63 +/- 29 and 39 +/- 6 pmol/mg protein), and 5-HT (696 +/- 151 and 3563 +/- 288 pmol/mg protein). Arteries and veins contained the highest concentrations of NE (1962 +/- 463 and 736 +/- 80 pmol/mg protein, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Pancreatic ganglia and blood vessels, rather than acini, are the main sites of noradrenergic sympathetic innervation of the rabbit exocrine pancreas. These nerves preferentially target ganglionic transmission in the head/neck versus the body. Serotonergic nerves provide little or no innervation of rabbit pancreatic ganglia or acini.
Yi
Eunyoung
E
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi 39216-4505, USA.
Smith
Tina G
TG
Baker
Rodney C
RC
Love
Jeffrey A
JA
D000818:Animals; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000737:chemistry; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000032:analysis*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005260:Female; D005725:Ganglia, Autonomic / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D009928:Organ Specificity; D046790:Pancreas, Exocrine / Q000098:blood supply / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000294:innervation; D010183:Pancreatic Ducts / Q000737:chemistry; D011817:Rabbits; D012701:Serotonin / Q000032:analysis*; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000737:chemistry
D002395:Catecholamines; D012701:Serotonin