Effects of stress and hypophysectomy on distribution of [3H]leucine in the mouse adrenal medulla

Abstract

Effect of stress and hypophysectomy on the distribution of [3H]leucine in the adrenal medulla of mice was examined by autoradiography. [3H]Leucine-derived radioactivity in adrenaline-storing (A) cells of the medulla was remarkably increased by immobilization with water immersion stress. The increase was prevented by adrenal denervation. Adrenal denervation itself reduced [3H]leucine incorporation by A cells. Hypophysectomy also reduced the amount of [3H]leucine in A cells. Although changes in noradrenaline-storing (NA) cells were not statistically significant, they were in the same direction as the changes observed in A cells. Present results showed that neural activity exerts trophic influence on leucine incorporation by adrenal chromaffin cells. Basal pituitary adrenocortical activity seems to be necessary for leucine incorporation in chromaffin cells.