The synthesis of the sympathetic neurotransmitter, norepinephrine, is accelerated by electrical stimulation of the guinea pig vas deferens. The molecular mechanism responsible for this enhanced formation of transmitter is unknown but has been attributed to an increase in the activity of tyrosine hydroxylase (EC 1.14.16.2; tyrosine 3-monooxygenase) during nerve stimulation. In the present experiments, we found that crude preparations of tyrosine hydroxylase isolated from guinea pig vasa deferentia that were electrically stimulated or depolarized by potassium show an increase in activity compared with enzyme obtained from untreated paired control tissues.
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