Subcellular storage and axonal transport of neuropeptide Y (NPY) in relation to catecholamines in the cat

The subcellular storage of neuropeptide Y-like immunoreactivity (NPY-LI) in peripheral sympathetic neurons and adrenal gland as well as its axonal transport in the sciatic nerve was studied in relation to catecholamines in the cat. In the subcellular fractions from different parts of sympathetic neurons, i.e. cell bodies (coeliac ganglia), axons (sciatic nerve) and terminals (spleen), the NPY-LI was found together with noradrenaline (NA) in heavy fractions assumed to contain large dense-cored vesicles. In addition, minor lighter fractions in the coeliac ganglion contained NPY-LI. The molar ratio between vesicular NA and NPY was high in the terminal regions (150 to 1) and much lower in axons and cell bodies (10 to 1), thus reflecting the different mechanisms of resupply for classical transmitter and peptide. In the adrenal gland the NPY-LI was mainly located in the catecholamine-storing chromaffin-granule fraction and also to a smaller extent in lighter fractions. Using reversed-phase HPLC, one molecular form of NPY-LI corresponding to porcine NPY was found in the coeliac ganglion, while the adrenal medulla also contained minor peaks with NPY-LI in addition to the main form, which co-eluted with porcine NPY. NA was stored both in light and heavy fractions in the spleen, while it was mainly found in heavier fractions in the sciatic nerve. In the coeliac ganglion, most of the noradrenaline was present in a non-particulate form. The anterograde transport rate for NPY-LI in the sciatic nerve was estimated to be about 9 mm h-1. A minor retrograde transport of NPY-LI was also detected. In conclusion, the present data suggest that NPY, a peptide with sympathoactive actions, is co-stored with NA in heavy fractions corresponding to large dense-cored vesicles, while light fractions with small dense-cored vesicles probably contain NA but not NPY-LI. The main resupply of NPY to terminals is, in contrast to NA, most likely by axonal transport, which implicates differences in the storage, turnover and release of these co-existing substances in the sympathoadrenal system.