Catecholamines, opioid peptides, and true opiates in the chromaffin cells of the eel: immunohistochemical evidence.

An immunohistological analysis of the chromaffin cell system of the American eel revealed the presence of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH) in all cells. However, phenylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase (PNMT) was seen only in a fraction of the chromaffin cells. This suggests the presence of both norepinephrine and epinephrine cells and the absence of specific dopamine cells. The chromaffin cells are most numerous in the anterior region of the posterior cardinal vein, where they occupy a subendothelial position. Their number decreases caudally, and a relatively small number are present in the larger veins of the opisthonephric kidney. No PNMT-positive cells were identified in this region, although a radioenzymatic assay had previously shown the presence of epinephrine. Methionine-enkephalin immunoreactivity seems to be restricted to the chromaffin cells. However, particularly large amounts of leucine immunoreactivity occur in the interrenal cells, with smaller quantities in the chromaffin cells. The chromaffin cells of the eel also contain morphine immunoreactivity.