抄録
Subcellular distribution of catecholamines in 12 cases of pheochromocytoma, 3 of neuroblastoma and their adrenal gland was investigated by the method of ultracentri-fugation. Catecholamine pool was divided into 4 fractions: coarse fraction (sediment by 800xg 10 minutes), heavy granules (sediment by 5, 000xg for 15 minutes), light granules (sediment by 100, 000xg for 60 minutes) and cytoplasmic sap (supernatant).
Most of catecholamines were found in the heavy granules and the cytoplasmic sap in these tumors and the adrenal. An increase of catecholamines in cytoplasmic sap of tumors occurred due to breakdown of the cells before or after operation. Catecholamines found in the coarse fraction of tumors showed somewhat higher values in comparison with that of the adrenal. By the method of sucrose continuous density gradient, catecholamine granules were studied more minutely and separated from mitochondria. Catecholamine granules of the tumors and the adrenal were widely distributed from the bottom (2. 0 M sucrose) to almost the same density of mitochondria, and catecholamines content was found to be relatively high in the upper part. In some tumors, catecholamine distribution shifted a little to the bottom. The same shift was observed in the adrenal of the rat injected L-dopa or in the adrenal kept in such condition as freezing. L-dopa can increase synthesis of catecholamines and probably raise catecholamines store in granules. Freezing destroyed the light part of catecholamine granules, then the heavier part of catecholamine granules probably remained after partial destruction of the cell.
The pool of catecholamines in those tumors resembled that of the adrenal. However, some tumors had a little heavier granules than those of the adrenal.
