Summary
The catecholamine-synthesizing enzymes, tyrosine hydroxylase, dopamine-β-hydroxylase and phenylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase were examined by immunohistochemistry in hypertrophied paraganglia of aged male Fischer-344 rats. All paraganglionic cells reacted with antibodies against tyrosine hydroxylase. Dopamine β-hydroxylase was identified in most paraganglionic cells, indicating that they synthesized norepinephrine. A variable number of paraganglia were positive for phenylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase, which suggested that they synthesized epinephrine. The formaldehyde-induced fluorescence method demonstrated greenish-yellow fluorescence or yellowish-brown fluorescence. The intensity of the fluorescence was in the same range as in adrenal medullary cells. The observations indicate that paraganglia are capable of synthesizing epinephrine.
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Dr. J.M. Stolk is the recipient of RSDA K2-00018 from the National Institute of Health.
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Partanen, M., Rapoport, S.I., Reis, D.J. et al. Catecholamine-synthesizing enzymes in paraganglia of aged Fischer-344 rats. Cell Tissue Res. 238, 217–220 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00217291
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00217291