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SUBCELLULAR DISTRIBUTION OF DOPAMINE‐β‐HYDROXYLASE AND INHIBITORS IN THE HIPPOCAMPUS AND CAUDATE NUCLEUS IN SHEEP BRAIN
Author(s) -
Lander J.,
Austin L.
Publication year - 1976
Publication title -
journal of neurochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.75
H-Index - 229
eISSN - 1471-4159
pISSN - 0022-3042
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1673.2007.01742.x
Subject(s) - caudate nucleus , dopamine , hypothalamus , nucleus , medicine , endocrinology , chemistry , catecholamine , median eminence , synaptic vesicle , biology , biochemistry , vesicle , microbiology and biotechnology , membrane
—The enzyme dopamine‐β‐hydroxylase (EC 1.14.17.1) which converts dopamine to noradrenaline was found to be present in substantial amounts in sheep brain hypothalamus and caudate nucleus and was located to the synaptic vesicle fractions in these two brain regions by subcellular fractionation. This dopamine‐β‐hydroxylase was associated with paniculate matter in these two brain regions since it was resistant to solubilization with butan‐1‐ol and 0.1% Triton X‐100. As highly significant levels of dopamine‐β‐hydroxylase were present in the caudate nucleus, factors other than a simple lack of this enzyme must operate to maintain the low levels of noradrenaline and high levels of dopamine in the caudate nucleus. Purified adrenal dopamine‐β‐hydroxylase was substantially inhibited by two factors prepared from sheep brain hypothalamus and caudate nucleus. These were found to be cupric ions and a sulphydryl inhibitor. High levels of the sulphydryl inhibitor of dopamine‐β‐hydroxylase were found in synaptosomal fractions from sheep brain hypothalamus and caudate nucleus and the levels were comparable in both regions. Upon subfractionation of a synaptosome‐containing fraction from the hypothalamus, the inhibitor was located predominantly in the soluble fraction, although there were significant levels in the synaptic vesicle fraction. Therefore, the sulphydryl inhibitor must be considered as a possible regulator of dopamine‐β‐hydroxylase activity. Free cupric ion concentrations as low as 2·5 μM were found to inhibit purified adrenal dopamine‐β‐hydroxylase in vitro and the concentration of copper in the soluble tissue component of hypothalamus and caudate nucleus was well above this minimal copper concentration. The percentage content of soluble copper in the caudate nucleus was significantly higher than in the hypothalamus. The importance of the soluble to particulate‐bound ratio of copper in brain was shown in studies of the developing rat brain. A rapid increase in the level of copper in brain was found in the first 4 weeks but the level was constant by 2 months of age. The percentage of soluble copper, however, was maximal soon after birth and had declined to a constant figure by 2 months of age. A scheme for the regulation of dopamine‐β‐hydroxylase activity involving these factors is proposed.