An improved method for the purification of "light" noradrenaline vesicles from rat vas deferens: some biochemical characteristics.

"Light" noradrenaline storage vesicles from nerve endings have been isolated by differential centrifugation and differential gradient centrifugation. They have been further purified by isopycnic sucrose/D2O centrifugation. By using these centrifugation techniques, we obtained an isopycnic gradient fraction in which noradrenaline was enriched about 41 times versus a total homogenate. This factor could be raised to 61 by using seminal ducts of castrated rats. Comparison of the distribution patterns in sucrose/D2O isopycnic gradients indicated that light noradrenaline vesicles of nerve endings contain Mg2+-stimulated ATPase and ATP, but that only a minor part of the dopamine beta-hydroxylase can be associated with these vesicles.