Tyrosine hydroxylase activity in peripherally denervated rat pineal gland

Guadalberto Hernández, Aixa R. Bello, Ignacio López-Coviella, Pedro Abreu, Natalia Fajardo, Russel J. Reiter, Alexis Hernández, Rafael Alonso

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

The presence of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) in the rat pineal gland was studied using a combination of immunochemical and biochemical methods. In superior cervical ganglionectomized (SCGx) animals and in isolated pineals incubated for 72 h, both TH immunoreactive (TH-IR) fibers and TH biochemical activity were still present but reduced. Conversely, in dispersed pinealocytes incubated for only 24 h we were unable to detect either TH activity or TH-positive cells. Since in the pineal gland of intact rats total 3-methoxy-4-hydroxy phenylglycol (MHPG) was undetectable, and only traces of norepinephrine (NE) were present in the pineal of ganglionectomized animals, the results suggest a central pinealopetal catecholaminergic pathway which could use dopamine as a neurotransmitter.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)131-134
Number of pages4
JournalNeuroscience Letters
Volume177
Issue number1-2
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 15 1994
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Catecholamine
  • Pineal gland
  • Superior cervical ganglia
  • Tyrosine hydroxylase

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Neuroscience

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