| dc.description | Angiotensin-converting enryme (ACE, kininase II. dipeplidyl carboxypeptidase,
EC 3.4.15.1) was characterized in the adrenal medulla of male Sprague-Dawley rats.
Rat adrenal medulla and lung ACE we¡e similar in their susceptibility to Cl - activation
and to the inhibition by EDTA, captopril, bacitracin and thiorphan, suggesting
that rat adrenal medulla and lung ACE have similar properties.
Changes in right adrenal weight and in adrenomedullary ACE activity 5 and l2
days following lcft unilateral adrenalectomy (UADX) were examined. Compensatory
adrenocortical hypertrophy 12 days foliowing UADX was associated with a significant
increase in adrenal medullary ACE activity. This change was due not to a modified
affinity of ACE for the substrate but to an alteration in ACE maximal velocity
or number of available molecules. UADX had no effect on adrenocortical ACE activity.
When UADX was combincd with ight splanchnic denervation, the increase
in adrenomedullary ACE activity was blocked. The results support the existence ol
a lunctional ACE in adrenal medulla that is under neuronal control. | |
