The distribution of cGMP in the adrenal gland in the rat, guinea pig and mouse after stimulation with sodium nitroprusside

Abstract

Nitric oxide (NO) acts as an intercellular messenger molecule in the nervous system. In the adrenal gland sympathetic preganglionic fibers innervating the medulla, as well as intrinsic neural ganglion cells, contain nitric oxide synthase (NOS). Nitric oxide stimulates the soluble enzyme guanylate cyclase forming cyclic GMP (cGMP). Using sodium nitroprusside (SNP) as nitric oxide donor we have studied the putative target cells for nitric oxide in the rat adrenal gland, both in vivo and in vitro. The guinea pig and a few mouse adrenal glands were studied after SNP perfusion for comparison. Our results show that after vascular perfusion with a high concentration (3 mM) of SNP both noradrenaline and adrenaline chromaffin cells express cGMP-like immunoreactivity in all three species. After incubation of rat adrenal slices with SNP primarily the noradrenaline chromaffin cells are cGMP-positive. In contrast, detectable levels of cGMP-like immunoreactivity were not found in neuronal ganglion cells. In the adrenal cortex cGMP-like immunoreactivity was seen in blood vessel walls, in small cells with processes forming a reticular network, at least partly presumably representing endothelial cells, as well as in some presumable nerve terminals. These findings support the view that chromaffin cells, especially the noradrenergic ones and blood vessels, are targets for nitric oxide in the adrenal gland.

The chromaffin system of the beluga sturgeonHuso huso(Chondrostei): Histological, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural study

“…The research of Holmberg et al (1998) on the role of NO in the rat, guinea pig and mouse adrenal indicated that the chromaffin cells (especially the noradrenergic ones) and blood vessels are targets for NO. In trout and in mammals, nitrergic nerves appear to be involved in the control of cellular activity of chromaffin and interrenal cells .…”

“…This molecule appears to be involved in the regulation of cellular activity of the adrenal gland. In fact, nNOS has been localized in mammalian chromaffin cells and nerve elements (Afework et al, 1992(Afework et al, , 1995Holmberg et al, 1998;Schwarz et al, 1998) and in frog chromaffin cells (Cartier et al, 2001); among fishes, it has been found to be sparsely localized in chromaffin cells and more frequently in nerve elements close to the adrenal homolog in the teleost Oncorhynchus mykiss .…”

Endogenous nitric oxide derived from NOS I or II in thoracic spinal cord exerts opposing tonic modulation on sympathetic vasomotor tone via disparate mechanisms in anesthetized rats

“…Of interest is that in the thoracic spinal cord, the sympathoexcit- atory effect of NOS I-derived NO is mediated by cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) (23). Likewise, cGMP signaling in the chromaffin cells, particularly the noradrenergic ones, is the target for NO in the adrenal gland (15). At the same time, we also demonstrated in adrenalectomized rats that whereas the plasma level of norepinephrine returned to baseline after intrathecal administration of SMT, MAP was sustained at a level that was higher than the adrenalectomy-alone group.…”