Summary
Natural variations in monoamine levels in the adrenal gland, whole brain, hypothalamus and plasma during the oestrus cycle were determined in Sherman rats. Noradrenaline content of adrenal gland was at its highest level during met-oestrus phase while adrenaline was at its lowest level. During pro-oestrus adrenaline in the adrenal gland was at the maximum value. Plasma adrenaline did not change significantly during the oestrus cycle. However plasma noradrenaline was significantly higher during metoestrus compared to the value for di-oestrus and pro-oestrus. In the hypothalamus noradrenaline level was at its highest value during di-oestrus and at its lowest during met-oestrus, while brain noradrenaline reached its maximum value during pro-oestrus. The sum of plasma adrenaline and noradrenaline showed maximum level during met-oestrus phase but at the same time total adrenal adrenaline plus noradrenaline was lowered. The variations in adrenaline and noradrenaline in the adrenal gland did not correspond to the changes in the activity of enzyme, phenylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase (PNMT). The activity of PNMT reached its maximum value during met-oestrus phase of the oestrus cycle. The observed variations in adrenal, brain, hypothalamus and plasma catecholamines can be attributed to the modification in endocrine activity which takes place during the oestrus cycle.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Anton, A. H., Sayre, D. F. A study of the factors affecting the aluminium oxide trihydroxindole procedure for the analysis of catecholamines. J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther.138, 360–375 (1962).
Axelrod, J. Noradrenaline and its fate. Science173, 598–606 (1971).
Cohen, G., Goldenberg, M. The simultaneous fluorometric determination of adrenaline and noradrenaline in plasma. J. Neurochem.2, 58–71 (1957).
Euler, U. S., von, Lishajko, F. The estimation of catecholamines in urine. Acta Physiol. Scand.45, 122–132 (1959).
Euler, U. S. von, Lishajko, F. Improved technique for fluorometric estimation of catecholamines. Acta Physiol. Scand.51, 348–355 (1961).
Green, R. D., Miller, J. W. Catecholamine concentrations: changes in plasma of rats during estrus cycle and pregnancy. Science151, 825–826 (1966).
Greengrass, P. M., Tonge, S. R. Changes in brain monoamine concentrations during the oestrous cycle in the mouse: possible pharmacological implications. J. Pharm. Pharmac.23, 897–898 (1971).
Holzbauer, M., Youdim, M. B. H.: The influence of endocrine glands on the central and peripheral monoamine oxidase activity. Br. J. Pharmac.44, 355P (1972).
Holzbauer, M., Youdim, M. B. H. The oestrous cycle and the monoamine oxidase activity. Br. J. Pharmac.48, 600–608 (1973).
Kamberi, I. A., Kobayashi, Y. Monoamine oxidase activity in the hypothalamus and various other brain regions and in some endocrine glands of the rat during the estrus cycle. J. Neurochem.17, 260–268 (1970).
Kurachi, K., Horita, K. Catecholamine metabolism in rat brain related with sexual cycle. Endocr. Jap. Suppl.1, 69–73 (1969).
Kohler, C., Berkowitz, B. A., Spector, S. Sex hormones and tyrosine hydroxylase activity in vascular and adrenal tissues. Endocrinology97, 1316–1320 (1975).
Parvez, H., Parvez, S. Catecholamine excretion after hypophysectomy and with hydrocortisone administration. Amer. J. Physiol.223, 1281–1285 (1972).
Parvez, H., Parvez, S. The effects of metopirone and adrenalectomy on the regulation of enzymes monoamine oxidase and catechol-O-methyl-transferase in different brain regions. J. Neurochem.20, 1011–1020 (1973 a).
Parvez, H., Parvez, S. The regulation of monoamine oxidase activity by adrenal cortical steroids. Acta Endocrinologica73, 509–517 (1973 b).
Parvez, S., Raza-Bukhari, A., Parvez, H. Progesterone mediated increase in monoamine stores and the regulation of enzyme of metabolism and synthesis during late pregnancy. Steroids26, 579–589 (1975 a).
Parvez, S., Parvez, H., Youdim, M. B. H. Variation in activity of monoamine metabolizing enzymes in rat liver during pregnancy. Br. J. Pharmac.53, 241–246 (1975 b).
Raza-Bukhari, A., Parvez, S., Parvez, H. Influence of repeated injections of estradiol upon enzymes of monoamine synthesis and metabolism during pregnancy. Pharmacol. Res. Commun.3, 283–294 (1976).
Stefano, F. J. E., Donoso, A. O. Norepinephrine levels in the rat hypothalamus during the estrous cycle. Endocrinology81, 1405–1406 (1967).
Southgate, J., Grant, E. C., Pollard, W., Pryse-Davies, J., Sandler, M. Cyclic variations in endometrial monoamine oxidase. Correlation of histochemical and quantitative biomedical assays. Biochem. Pharmacol.17, 721–726 (1968).
Wurtman, R. J., Axelrod, J. Adrenaline synthesis: control by the pituitary gland and adrenal glucocorticoids. Science150, 1464–1465 (1965).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Parvez, S., Ismahan, G., Raza-Bukhari, A. et al. Central and peripheral catecholamines and phenylethanolamine-N-methyl-transferase activity during the oestrus cycle. J. Neural Transmission 42, 293–304 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01673553
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01673553