Biomaterial Database

Sympathetic nerve endings in the pineal gland protect against acute stress-induced increase in N-acetyltransferase (EC 2.3.1.5.) activity. 1976

A G Parfitt, and D C Klein

Injection of the antidepressant desmyethylimipramine (DMI, 10 mg/kg) into intact rats or into rats in which the superior cervical ganglia had been decentralized caused a marked enhancement of the swimming stress-induced increase in pineal gland acetyl-CoA:serotonin N-acetyltransferase (N-acetyltransferase, EC 2.3.1.5) activity. DMI is known to block uptake, the transport of catecholamines by nerve endings. It was found that DMI had no effect on enzyme activity in superior cervical ganglionectomized (SCGX) rats which were swimming stressed. The pineal glands of these animals are devoid of nerve endings. In unstressed intact or unstressed surgically altered rats, injection of DMI caused only a minor increase in N-acetyltransferase activity, which was much smaller than that seen after stress. After 5 h in organ culture sympathetic nerve endings within the pineal gland are still intact. At this time DMI treatment of pineal glands taken from intact rats shifted the dose-response curve for epinephrine (EPI) stimulation of N-acetyltransferase activity by two orders of magnitude, but caused only a slight change in the dose-response curve for isoproterenol, which is not taken up into nerve endings. In contrast, DMI treatment in organ culture had no effect on the dose-response curve for EPI in denervated pineal glands. These results support the hypothesis that the response of pineal N-acetyltransferase activity to stimulation by stress is influenced by uptake. It would appear that in addition to terminating neuronal adrenergic transmission, this transport process physiologically protects the pineal gland against nontranssynaptic adrenergic stimulation.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007545	Isoproterenol	Isopropyl analog of EPINEPHRINE; beta-sympathomimetic that acts on the heart, bronchi, skeletal muscle, alimentary tract, etc. It is used mainly as bronchodilator and heart stimulant.	Isoprenaline,Isopropylarterenol,4-(1-Hydroxy-2-((1-methylethyl)amino)ethyl)-1,2-benzenediol,Euspiran,Isadrin,Isadrine,Isopropyl Noradrenaline,Isopropylnoradrenaline,Isopropylnorepinephrine,Isoproterenol Hydrochloride,Isoproterenol Sulfate,Isuprel,Izadrin,Norisodrine,Novodrin,Hydrochloride, Isoproterenol,Noradrenaline, Isopropyl,Sulfate, Isoproterenol
D007700	Kinetics	The rate dynamics in chemical or physical systems.
D008297	Male		Males
D009411	Nerve Endings	Branch-like terminations of NERVE FIBERS, sensory or motor NEURONS. Endings of sensory neurons are the beginnings of afferent pathway to the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM. Endings of motor neurons are the terminals of axons at the muscle cells. Nerve endings which release neurotransmitters are called PRESYNAPTIC TERMINALS.	Ending, Nerve,Endings, Nerve,Nerve Ending
D010870	Pineal Gland	A light-sensitive neuroendocrine organ attached to the roof of the THIRD VENTRICLE of the brain. The pineal gland secretes MELATONIN, other BIOGENIC AMINES and NEUROPEPTIDES.	Epiphysis Cerebri,Pineal Body,Corpus Pineale,Gland, Pineal,Pineal Bodies,Pineal Glands
D003080	Cold Temperature	An absence of warmth or heat or a temperature notably below an accustomed norm.	Cold,Cold Temperatures,Temperature, Cold,Temperatures, Cold
D003891	Desipramine	A tricyclic dibenzazepine compound that potentiates neurotransmission. Desipramine selectively blocks reuptake of norepinephrine from the neural synapse, and also appears to impair serotonin transport. This compound also possesses minor anticholinergic activity, through its affinity to muscarinic receptors.	Desmethylimipramine,Apo-Desipramine,Demethylimipramine,Desipramine Hydrochloride,Norpramin,Novo-Desipramine,Nu-Desipramine,PMS-Desipramine,Pertofran,Pertofrane,Pertrofran,Petylyl,Ratio-Desipramine,Apo Desipramine,Hydrochloride, Desipramine,Novo Desipramine,Nu Desipramine,PMS Desipramine,Ratio Desipramine
D004305	Dose-Response Relationship, Drug	The relationship between the dose of an administered drug and the response of the organism to the drug.	Dose Response Relationship, Drug,Dose-Response Relationships, Drug,Drug Dose-Response Relationship,Drug Dose-Response Relationships,Relationship, Drug Dose-Response,Relationships, Drug Dose-Response
D004837	Epinephrine	The active sympathomimetic hormone from the ADRENAL MEDULLA. It stimulates both the alpha- and beta- adrenergic systems, causes systemic VASOCONSTRICTION and gastrointestinal relaxation, stimulates the HEART, and dilates BRONCHI and cerebral vessels. It is used in ASTHMA and CARDIAC FAILURE and to delay absorption of local ANESTHETICS.	Adrenaline,4-(1-Hydroxy-2-(methylamino)ethyl)-1,2-benzenediol,Adrenaline Acid Tartrate,Adrenaline Bitartrate,Adrenaline Hydrochloride,Epifrin,Epinephrine Acetate,Epinephrine Bitartrate,Epinephrine Hydrochloride,Epinephrine Hydrogen Tartrate,Epitrate,Lyophrin,Medihaler-Epi,Acetate, Epinephrine
D005725	Ganglia, Autonomic	Clusters of neurons and their processes in the autonomic nervous system. In the autonomic ganglia, the preganglionic fibers from the central nervous system synapse onto the neurons whose axons are the postganglionic fibers innervating target organs. The ganglia also contain intrinsic neurons and supporting cells and preganglionic fibers passing through to other ganglia.	Autonomic Ganglia,Ganglion, Autonomic,Autonomic Ganglion