Abstract
THE important role of catecholamines in behaviour has been recognized1. Increased adrenaline and noradrenaline excretion has been observed in anxiety-provoking situations and in states of anger and aggression2,3. Drugs used in affective disorders cause marked changes in uptake, storage, release and metabolism of the neurotransmitter noradrenaline in the peripheral and central nervous systems4,5. Because of the growing understanding of the implication of catecholamines in behavioural changes, we examined the effect of psychosocial stimulation and deprivation on the activity of the enzymes involved in the biosynthesis and metabolism of catecholamines. Groups of mice were raised in social isolation or were subjected to prolonged and increased social interaction, and the catecholamine synthesizing (tyrosine hydroxylase and phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase) and metabolizing (monoamine oxidase and catecholamine-O-methyl transferase) enzymes were examined in the adrenal gland. We wish to report marked changes in enzymes involved in catecholamine synthesis and metabolism in the adrenal glands of these mice.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Schildkraut, J. J., and Kety, S. S., Science, 156, 21 (1967).
Elmadjian, F., Hope, J. M., and Lamson, E. T., J. Clin. Endocrinol., 17, 608 (1957).
Levi, L., Psychosomat. Med., 27, 80 (1965).
Axelrod, J., Whitby, L. G., and Hertting, G., Science, 133, 383 (1961).
Glowinski, J., and Axelrod, J., Pharmacol. Rev., 18, 775 (1966).
Henry, J. P., Meehan, J. P., and Stephens, P. M., Psychosomat. Med., 29, 408 (1967).
von Euler, U. S., and Lishajko, F., Acta Physiol. Scand., 61, 348 (1961).
Mueller, R. A., Thoenen, H., and Axelrod, J., J. Pharmacol. Exp. Therap., 169, 74 (1969).
Axelrod, J., J. Biol. Chem., 237, 1657 (1962).
Wurtman, R. J., and Axelrod, J., J. Biol. Chem., 241, 2301 (1966).
Wurtman, R. J., and Axelrod, J., Biochem. Pharmacol., 12, 1439 (1963).
Thoenen, H., Mueller, R. A., and Axelrod, J., J. Pharmacol. Exp. Therap., 169, 249 (1969).
Mueller, R. A., Thoenen, H., and Axelrod, J., Mol. Pharmacol., 5, 463 (1969).
Thoenen, H., Mueller, R. A., and Axelrod, J., Endocrinology (in the press).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
AXELROD, J., MUELLER, R., HENRY, J. et al. Changes in Enzymes involved in the Biosynthesis and Metabolism of Noradrenaline and Adrenaline after Psychosocial Stimulation. Nature 225, 1059–1060 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1038/2251059a0
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/2251059a0
This article is cited by
-
The neuropsychopharmacology of action inhibition: cross-species translation of the stop-signal and go/no-go tasks
Psychopharmacology (2008)
-
Differential effects of modafinil and methylphenidate on stop-signal reaction time task performance in the rat, and interactions with the dopamine receptor antagonist cis-flupenthixol
Psychopharmacology (2007)
-
Presence of a pet dog and human cardiovascular responses to mild mental stress
Clinical Autonomic Research (2001)
-
Schizophrenia: A theory
Psychopharmacology (1976)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.