Catecholamine containing alterations in the adrenal medulla of the p73 mutant mice

  1. González Marrero, Ibrahim
  2. Castañeyra Ruiz, Agustín
  3. Fernández Rodríguez, Paloma
  4. Paz Carmona, Héctor de
  5. Castañeyra Ruiz, Leandro
  6. González Toledo, Juan M.
  7. Castañeyra Martín, Manuela
  8. Carmona Calero, Emilia María
Journal:
Majorensis: Revista Electrónica de Ciencia y Tecnología

ISSN: 1697-5529

Year of publication: 2008

Issue: 4

Pages: 1-4

Type: Article

More publications in: Majorensis: Revista Electrónica de Ciencia y Tecnología

Abstract

The adrenal medulla is composed mainly by chromaffin cells producing of hormones, being the main organ for converting the tyrosine aminoacid in the catecholamines adrenaline and noradrenalin. The cells of the adrenal medulla derive embryologically from neural crest, like neurons modified. The protein p73 is a member of a family of transcription factors, which also includes p53 and p63 and p73 is necessary for survival and long-term maintenance of central nervous system neurons, including cells of the peripheral nervous system; such us sympathetic neurons. The aim of present work is study the expression of the catecholamine biosynthesis enzymes and chromogranin A (ChA) in the adrenal medulla of p73 mutant mice. We have used p73 mutant mice (KO) and control wild type mice (WT) of 9 days of age. Antibody against the tyrosine-hydroxylase (TH), dopamine-ß-hydroxylase (DBH), phenyl-ethanolamine-N-methyl transferase (PNMT) and ChA, were used as the primary antibodies. TH and ChA expression were similar in both the mutant and control groups. The immunoreactive material (IRM) for DBH and PNMT were increased in the mutant mice with respect to the wild type groups. We could conclude the variations of the catecholamines containing in adrenal medulla cells of the mice lack in p73 protein, is probably owing to the fact p73 influxes the survival sympathetic neurons.