DISTRIBUTION OF PNMT AND EPINEPHRINE IN THE MEDULLA-OBLONGATA OF NORMOTENSIVE AND SPONTANEOUS HYPERTENSIVE RATS

The distribution of the Epinephrine forming enzyme (PNMT) activity and Epinephrine (E) levels was investigated in the medulla oblongata of spontaneous hypertensive rats (SH-rats) and in two normotensive strains, namely Wistar Kyoto rats (WK-rats) and Wistar rats. The PNMT activity increases progressively from the caudal to rostral parts in the C1 and C2 regions of the medulla oblongata. The enzyme activity and the E levels are in all parts of the C1 and C2 regions higher in Wistar rats than in WK-rats. The PNMT activity in all parts of the C2 region (with the exception of the caudal region), and in the middle part of the C1 region is higher in SH-rats than in WK-rats. The E levels in the SH-rats are higher than in WK-rats in the mediocaudal parts of the C2 and C1 regions. © 1979 Springer-Verlag.