ANTISERUM AGAINST NEUROPEPTIDE-Y ENHANCES THE NICOTINE-MEDIATED RELEASE OF CATECHOLAMINES FROM CULTURED RAT ADRENAL CHROMAFFIN CELLS

A primary culture of chromaffin cells was prepared from adult rats and the stability of cell contents, NPY and catecholamines (CAs), during the culture was studied. The responsiveness of cultured chromaffin cel ls to NGF or secretagogues and the possible role of NPY on the CA secr etion from cultured chromaffin cells were investigated. After plating of isolated cells, there was marked decrease in the cell content of CA s but a significant increase in the cell content of NPY. Though both N PY and CAs in the cultured cells were positively regulated by NGF, the results of this study seemed to suggest a differential regulation for NPY and CAs in the chromaffin cell. The cultured chromaffin cells sec reted NPY and CAs in response to stimulation by nicotine. The nicotine stimulated secretion of CA was enhanced by the presence of IgG fracti on, prepared from NPY antiserum, in the secretion medium. The results suggested that NPY was co-released with CAs from chromaffin cells and then acted as a modulator on CA secretion.