Skip to main content
Log in

Electron microscopic localization of adenylate cyclase activity of white and brown adipose tissue of the rat and chicken

  • Published:
Histochemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Brown adipose tissue of newborn rats and chicken embryos and white adipose tissue of adult rats were studied. Adenylate cyclase (EC 4.6.1.1.) activity stimulated by 0.1 mmol/l noradrenaline was demonstrated using an electron microscopic histochemical method.

The reaction product was visualized as a cobalt salt in the plasmalemma of the adipocytes. The adipocytes of the brown adipose tissue of the newborn rats showed most intense reaction in the outer surfaces of their plasmalemma. Alloxan totally inhibited the enzymatic reaction.

The histochemical reaction used in the present study probably demonstrated the hormonal receptor sites in the plasmalemmas of the adipocytes which are stimulated by noradrenaline.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Appleman, M.M., Sevilla, C.L.: Cyclic 3′,5′-adenosine monophosphate and the effects of hormones on hormone sensitive lipase from adipose tissue, p. 209–216. In: Role of cyclic AMP in cell function (Ed. P. Greengard and E. Costa). Advances in biochemical psychopharmacology, Vol. 3. New York: Raven Press 1970

    Google Scholar 

  • Birnbaumer, L., Pohl, S.L., Krans, M.J., Rodbell, M.: The actions of hormones on the adenyl cyclase system, pp. 185–208. In: Role of cyclic AMP in cell function (Ed. P. Greengard and E. Costa). Advances in biochemical psychopharmacology, Vol. 3. New York: Raven Press 1970

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, K.L., Bitensky, M.W.: Inhibitory effects of alloxan on mammalian adenyl cyclase. J. Pharmacol. exp. Ther. 169, 80–86 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ebert, R., Schwabe, U.: Biphasic effect of 5′-guanylylimidodiphosphate on fat cell adenylate cyclase Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Arch. Pharmacol. 286, 297–313 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Howell, S.L., Whitfield, M.: Cytochemical localization of adenyl cyclase activity in rat islets of Langerhans. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 20, 873–879 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Jarett, L., Smith, R.M.: Ultrastructural localization of insulin receptors on adipocytes. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.) 72, 3526–3530 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Larrabee, M.G.: Oxygen consumption of excised sympathetic ganglia at rest and in activity. J. Neurochem. 2, 81–101 (1958)

    Google Scholar 

  • Levitzki, A.: Negative co-operativity in clustered receptors as a possible basis for membrane action. J. theor. Biol. 44, 367–372 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mollenhauer, H.H.: Plastic embedding mixtures for use in electron microscopy. Stain Technol. 39, 111–114 (1964)

    Google Scholar 

  • Rechardt, L., Härkönen, M.: Electron microscopical demonstration of adenyl cyclase activities in the nervous tissue. Ultrastruct. Res. 50, 365 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Rechardt, L., Härkönen, M.: Electron microscopical demonstration of adenyl cyclase activity in brain tissue. (In press)

  • Skala, J., Hahn, P., Braun, T.: Adenyl cyclase activity in brown adipose tissue of young rats. Life Sci. 9, 1201–1212 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Skala, J., Novak, E., Hahn, P., Drummond, G.I.: Changes in interscapular brown adipose tissue of the rat during perinatal and early postnatal development and after cold acclimation. V. Adenyl cyclase, cyclic AMP, protein kinase, phosphorylase, phosphorylase kinase, and glycogen. Int. J. Biochem. 3, 229–242 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Steinberg, D., Mayer, S.E., Khoo, J.C., Miller, E.A., Miller, R.E., Fredholm, B., Eichner, R.: Hormonal regulation of lipase, phosphorylase and glycogen synthase in adipose tissue, pp. 549–568. In: Advances in cyclic nucleotide research, Vol. 5 (Ed. G.I. Drummond, P. Greengard and G.A. Robison) New York: Raven Press 1975

    Google Scholar 

  • Sutherland, E.W., Robison, G.A.: Metabolic effects of catecholamines. A. The role of cyclic-3′-5′-AMP in responses to catecholamines and other hormones. Pharmacol. Rev. 18, 145–161 (1966)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Rechardt, L., Hervonen, H. Electron microscopic localization of adenylate cyclase activity of white and brown adipose tissue of the rat and chicken. Histochemistry 50, 57–64 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00492786

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00492786

Keywords

Navigation