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Altered Reactivity of the Rat Adrenal Medulla Following Periods of Chronic Stress

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Molecular Mechanisms of Neuronal Responsiveness

Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AEMB,volume 221))

Abstract

The chromaffin cells of the adrenal medulla are derived from embryonic neural tissues; specifically, the neural crest cells. These cells share many biochemical and functional properties with adrenergic neurons and are a useful model for studying many of the biochemical processes that occur in adrenergic neurons. These cells are known to be responsive to a variety of agonists and antagonists that also modulate sympathetic neuronal activity, contain the proteins necessary for the synthesis and release of the catecholamine neurotransmitters, and respond to growth factors that are known to regulate adrenergic growth. This tissue also contains several putative neurotransmitters and neurally active peptides. The primary physiological function of the chromaffin cells is to release epinephrine and norepinephrine in response to acetylcholine released from the preganglionic neuron.

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© 1987 Plenum Press, New York

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Mitchell, J.P., Vulliet, P.R. (1987). Altered Reactivity of the Rat Adrenal Medulla Following Periods of Chronic Stress. In: Ehrlich, Y.H., Lenox, R.H., Kornecki, E., Berry, W.O. (eds) Molecular Mechanisms of Neuronal Responsiveness. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 221. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-7618-7_26

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-7618-7_26

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4684-7620-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4684-7618-7

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