Enkephalin containing peptides in the peripheral sympathetic nervous system
1Laboratory of Pharmacology Department of Medicine, University of Antwerp (UIA), Universiteitsplein 1, B2610 Wilrijk, Belgium.
Neurochemistry International
|May 27, 2010
Summary
Sympathetic neurons process enkephalins differently in ganglia versus peripheral tissues. Bovine vasa deferentia contain low molecular weight enkephalins, while ganglia have high molecular weight forms, indicating distinct processing pathways.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biochemistry
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Enkephalins are opioid peptides involved in pain modulation and stress response.
- Sympathetic neurons play a crucial role in regulating various physiological functions.
- Understanding enkephalin processing in sympathetic neurons is key to elucidating their neurochemical roles.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the processing pathway of enkephalins within sympathetic neurons.
- To determine the molecular forms of enkephalins present in bovine vasa deferentia and ganglia stellata.
- To explore the colocalization of enkephalins with noradrenaline in sympathetic neurons.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of acetic acid extracts from bovine vasa deferentia and ganglia stellata.
- Utilized chromatography, proteolytic digestion (trypsin and carboxypeptidase B), and radioimmunoassays.
- Investigated peptide content using reversed-phase fast protein liquid chromatography.
Main Results:
- Colocalization of met-enkephalin and noradrenaline in large dense-cored vesicles of sympathetic neurons.
- High molecular weight enkephalin-containing peptides found in ganglia stellata.
- Low molecular weight enkephalin-containing peptides detected in vasa deferentia, with a met- to leu-enkephalin ratio of 4.8:1.
Conclusions:
- Sympathetic neurons exhibit differential enkephalin processing between ganglia and peripheral terminals.
- The observed met- to leu-enkephalin ratio in vasa deferentia aligns with the proenkephalin precursor.
- Further characterization of enkephalin-related peptides suggests the presence of specific processing intermediates.
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