Biomaterial Database

Regulation of phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PNMT) mRNA in the rat adrenal medulla by corticosterone. 1989

W Jiang, and R Uht, and M C Bohn

Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, University of Rochester Medical Center, NY 14642.

In the adrenal medulla of adult rat, physiological levels of glucocorticoid hormones are required to maintain the catalytic activity of the epinephrine-synthesizing enzyme, phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PNMT). The present study was undertaken to determine whether glucocorticoid regulation of PNMT occurs at the level of mRNA coding for PNMT. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were hypophysectomized (HPX) and killed after 2 weeks; pellets of corticosterone were implanted for 1, 3 or 7 days prior to killing. Determinations were made of plasma corticosterone levels, adrenal PNMT activity and PNMT mRNA levels by Northern gel analysis. HPX resulted in a decrease in plasma corticosterone to undetectable levels, and decreases in PNMT activity and PNMT mRNA levels to 1 and 18% of the levels observed in sham rats, respectively. Corticosterone replacement produced high prolonged plasma levels of corticosterone which were 10 times those of sham rats, and significantly increased levels of PNMT activity and mRNA. However, corticosterone replacement failed to restore PNMT activity and mRNA levels fully. These results suggest that the maintenance of PNMT mRNA levels is dependent on maintaining corticosterone levels and supports the hypothesis that PNMT gene expression in the adrenal medulla is directly regulated by glucocorticoids produced by the adrenal cortex. However, the results also suggest that in the chronically HPX rat, factors in addition to naturally produced glucocorticoids are required for full restoration of PNMT mRNA levels.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007016	Hypophysectomy	Surgical removal or destruction of the hypophysis, or pituitary gland. (Dorland, 28th ed)	Hypophysectomies
D008297	Male		Males
D010625	Phenylethanolamine N-Methyltransferase	A methyltransferase that catalyzes the reaction of S-adenosyl-L-methionine and phenylethanolamine to yield S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine and N-methylphenylethanolamine. It can act on various phenylethanolamines and converts norepinephrine into epinephrine. (From Enzyme Nomenclature, 1992) EC 2.1.1.28.	Phenethanolamine N-Methyltransferase,Noradrenalin N-Methyltransferase,Noradrenaline N-Methyltransferase,Norepinephrine Methyltransferase,Norepinephrine N-Methyltransferase,Methyltransferase, Norepinephrine,Noradrenalin N Methyltransferase,Noradrenaline N Methyltransferase,Norepinephrine N Methyltransferase,Phenethanolamine N Methyltransferase,Phenylethanolamine N Methyltransferase
D011919	Rats, Inbred Strains	Genetically identical individuals developed from brother and sister matings which have been carried out for twenty or more generations or by parent x offspring matings carried out with certain restrictions. This also includes animals with a long history of closed colony breeding.	August Rats,Inbred Rat Strains,Inbred Strain of Rat,Inbred Strain of Rats,Inbred Strains of Rats,Rat, Inbred Strain,August Rat,Inbred Rat Strain,Inbred Strain Rat,Inbred Strain Rats,Inbred Strains Rat,Inbred Strains Rats,Rat Inbred Strain,Rat Inbred Strains,Rat Strain, Inbred,Rat Strains, Inbred,Rat, August,Rat, Inbred Strains,Rats Inbred Strain,Rats Inbred Strains,Rats, August,Rats, Inbred Strain,Strain Rat, Inbred,Strain Rats, Inbred,Strain, Inbred Rat,Strains, Inbred Rat
D003345	Corticosterone	An adrenocortical steroid that has modest but significant activities as a mineralocorticoid and a glucocorticoid. (From Goodman and Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 8th ed, p1437)
D004343	Drug Implants	Small containers or pellets of a solid drug implanted in the body to achieve sustained release of the drug.	Drug Implant,Drug Pellet,Pellets, Drug,Drug Pellets,Implant, Drug,Implants, Drug,Pellet, Drug
D000313	Adrenal Medulla	The inner portion of the adrenal gland. Derived from ECTODERM, adrenal medulla consists mainly of CHROMAFFIN CELLS that produces and stores a number of NEUROTRANSMITTERS, mainly adrenaline (EPINEPHRINE) and NOREPINEPHRINE. The activity of the adrenal medulla is regulated by the SYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM.	Adrenal Medullas,Medulla, Adrenal,Medullas, Adrenal
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D012333	RNA, Messenger	RNA sequences that serve as templates for protein synthesis. Bacterial mRNAs are generally primary transcripts in that they do not require post-transcriptional processing. Eukaryotic mRNA is synthesized in the nucleus and must be exported to the cytoplasm for translation. Most eukaryotic mRNAs have a sequence of polyadenylic acid at the 3' end, referred to as the poly(A) tail. The function of this tail is not known for certain, but it may play a role in the export of mature mRNA from the nucleus as well as in helping stabilize some mRNA molecules by retarding their degradation in the cytoplasm.	Messenger RNA,Messenger RNA, Polyadenylated,Poly(A) Tail,Poly(A)+ RNA,Poly(A)+ mRNA,RNA, Messenger, Polyadenylated,RNA, Polyadenylated,mRNA,mRNA, Non-Polyadenylated,mRNA, Polyadenylated,Non-Polyadenylated mRNA,Poly(A) RNA,Polyadenylated mRNA,Non Polyadenylated mRNA,Polyadenylated Messenger RNA,Polyadenylated RNA,RNA, Polyadenylated Messenger,mRNA, Non Polyadenylated
D015971	Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic	Any of the processes by which nuclear, cytoplasmic, or intercellular factors influence the differential control of gene action in enzyme synthesis.	Enzymologic Gene Expression Regulation,Regulation of Gene Expression, Enzymologic,Regulation, Gene Expression, Enzymologic

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