Adrenocortical Control of Catecholamine Metabolism in the Dog Adrenal Medulla: Relationship to Protein Synthesis

These studies describe the control by the pituitary gland of protein and catecholamine synthesis in the dog adrenal medulla. Following hypophysectomy, the phenylethanolamine- N-methyl transferase (PNMT) activity of the adrenal medulla was depressed, in spite of maintenance cortisone administration, as were the contents of PNMT protein and epinephrine and the rates at which the medulla accumulated 3H-tyrosyl-PNMT and catecholamines from 3H-tyrosine. These effects of hypophysectomy were partially prevented if operated, cortisone-treated animals also received ACTH. Medullary polysomes were largely disaggregated in hypophysectomized, cortisone- treated animals, and this disaggregation was also partially prevented by treatment with ACTH. The PNMT activity in adrenal medullas of intact dogs is associated with two peaks that can be separated by fractionation on DE-52 cellulose columns. Only one such peak could be detected in adrenals from hypophysectomized, cortisonetreated dogs. (Endocrinology 93: 566, 1973)