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Regulation of catecholamine synthesis in the rat brain in vitro by cyclic AMP

Nature volume 252, pages 156–158 (1974)Cite this article

Abstract

EVIDENCE that catecholamines stimulate the production of adenosine cyclic-3′,5′-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) in the pineal gland1, superior cervical ganglia2 and both in brain slices3,4 and homogenates5 has suggested that cyclic AMP has an important postsynaptic function in both peripheral and central adrenergic neurotransmission. Evidence has also been presented in the hypogastric nerve–vas deferens preparation6 and adrenal medulla7 that dibutyryl cyclic AMP increases the release of noradrenaline, suggesting a presynaptic role for cyclic AMP in modulating catecholamine metabolism in adrenergic terminals. In the central nervous system, adenylate cyclase and phosphodiesterase are, to a considerable extent, associated with the isolated nerve-ending (synaptosomal) fraction8 in which putative neurotransmitters are primarily localised. Thus it was of interest to determine whether cyclic AMP might also stimulate catecholamine turnover in the brain, especially in synaptosomes prepared from brain homogenates.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, 30322

    J. E. HARRIS

  2. Department of Pharmacology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, 06520

    V. H. MORGENROTH III & R. H. ROTH

  3. Psychiatric Research Laboratories, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, 02114

    R. J. BALDESSARINI

Authors
  1. J. E. HARRIS
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  2. V. H. MORGENROTH III
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  3. R. H. ROTH
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  4. R. J. BALDESSARINI
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HARRIS, J., MORGENROTH, V., ROTH, R. et al. Regulation of catecholamine synthesis in the rat brain in vitro by cyclic AMP. Nature 252, 156–158 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1038/252156a0

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