Pendleton R G, Gessner G, Sawyer J
Res Commun Chem Pathol Pharmacol. 1978 Aug;21(2):315-25.
Using two independent criteria, we have found the enzyme phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PNMT) to be present in the adrenals, lungs, brain stem, spleen, heart and skeletal muscle of the rat. The lungs contained more activity than the brain stem or any other extra-adrenal organ. PNMT was not detectable, however, in the kidneys, stomach, liver and plasma. Trace amounts of epinephrine were found in brain stem, lung and heart; norepinephrine, however, was the predominant catecholamine in these tissues. Substantial quantities of epinephrine were found in the adrenal and plasma of decapitated animals, but the latter were essentially eliminated by adrenal demedullation. Our data indicate that although the adrenal is the principal tissue source of epinephrine and PNMT in the rat, small amounts of both substances are present in several body organs.
通过两种独立的标准，我们发现大鼠的肾上腺、肺、脑干、脾脏、心脏和骨骼肌中存在苯乙醇胺N-甲基转移酶（PNMT）。肺中的活性比脑干或任何其他肾上腺外器官都高。然而，在肾脏、胃、肝脏和血浆中未检测到PNMT。在脑干、肺和心脏中发现了微量的肾上腺素；然而，去甲肾上腺素是这些组织中的主要儿茶酚胺。在断头动物的肾上腺和血浆中发现了大量的肾上腺素，但后者在肾上腺去髓质后基本消除。我们的数据表明，虽然肾上腺是大鼠肾上腺素和PNMT的主要组织来源，但这两种物质在几个身体器官中都有少量存在。
