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Residual catecholamines in extrinsically denervated guinea-pig ileum
Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology & Physiology
|July 1, 1981
Summary
This study investigated catecholamine storage in guinea-pig ileum neurons. Findings suggest residual amines after denervation are not stored as neurotransmitters in intrinsic intestinal neurons.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Gastroenterology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- The enteric nervous system (ENS) regulates gastrointestinal function.
- Understanding neurotransmitter storage in the ENS is crucial for treating motility disorders.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify catecholamine levels in the guinea-pig ileum.
- To determine the storage sites of noradrenaline, adrenaline, and dopamine within the ileum.
Main Methods:
- Radioisotope enzymatic assay for catecholamine quantification.
- Subcellular fractionation to identify amine-rich cellular components.
- Extrinsic denervation and reserpine treatment to assess amine storage and release.
Main Results:
- Noradrenaline was significantly reduced after extrinsic denervation, with residual amounts insensitive to reserpine.
- Adrenaline and dopamine levels also decreased post-denervation.
- Residual amines were not concentrated in microsomal fractions, unlike endogenous noradrenaline.
Conclusions:
- The study suggests that residual catecholamines in the guinea-pig ileum after extrinsic denervation are not stored as neurotransmitters in intrinsic neurons.
- These findings challenge the role of intrinsic enteric neurons in storing significant amounts of these catecholamines.