Asymmetrical content of dopamine-beta-hydroxylase and phenylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase in the adrenals of spontaneously hypertensive and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats
Hilse, H.; Oehme, P.; Hecht, K.
Biomedica Biochimica Acta 42(6): 745-750
1983
ISSN/ISBN: 0232-766X PMID: 6639646 Document Number: 209865
The enzymatic activities of dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH) and phenylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase (PNMT) were determined in adrenals of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and controls of the Wistar-Kyoto-strain (WKY) of different ages. In SHR of all examined age groups (10, 14 and 26 weeks) lower enzyme activities were found than in WKY rats of the same ages. That was more evident for PNMT than for DBH, SHR show a clear asymmetric distribution or PNMT with higher values in the left adrenals. This concerns 10, 14 and 26-week-old animals. An asymmetric distribution of DBH with higher values in the right adrenals were shown only in 14 and 26 weeks old rats. The asymmetric distribution was generally more obvious in SHR. This fact could be related to changes in the control of the connections between hypophysis and adrenals during development of hypertension.