Concentration of norepinephrine, serotonin, and histamine, and of amine-metabolizing enzymes in mammalian adipose tissue

• Main Authors: K. Stock, E.O. Westermann
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 1963-07-01
• Series: Journal of Lipid Research
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022227520403062

The norepinephrine content of adipose tissue is shown to be very different in various animal species and different sites of origin, ranging from 0.03-1.4 μg/g. Adipose tissue also contains considerable amounts of serotonin (0.01-1.04 μg/g) and histamine (0.1-13.6 μ/g). Changes in the norepinephrine content of adipose tissue after the injection of either reserpine analogues or monoamine oxidase inhibitors followed a pattern similar to that found in the heart and brain, indicating that the storage mechanism in these organs is basically the same. In contrast to norepinephrine, serotonin in adipose tissue is rather resistant toward depletion by reserpine. Adipose tissue also contains monoamine oxidase and catechol-O-methyl-transferase activity, which are usually highest in tissues also rich in norepinephrine.