Co-localization of chromogranin A and B, secretogranin II and neuropeptide Y in chromaffin granules of rat adrenal medulla studied by electron microscopic immunocytochemistry.

The co-localization of various antigens in rat chromaffin granules was investigated by the immunogold staining procedure. In ultrathin serial sections staining of chromaffin granules was obtained with antisera against chromogranin A, chromogranin B, secretogranin II and neuropeptide Y. These results indicated that these antigens are costored within chromaffin granules. To further corroborate this point a double immunogold staining procedure was used. This method unequivocally established that chromogranin A, chromogranin B, secretogranin II and neuropeptide Y are co-localized in the same chromaffin granules. These results are relevant for studies demonstrating changes in the level of these peptides in adrenal medulla. The co-localization makes it likely that such changes lead to a different relative composition of the secretory quanta of chromaffin granules.