Colocalization of gamma-aminobutyric acid immunoreactivity and acetylcholinesterase activity in nerve fibers of the mouse adrenal gland.

The present immunohistochemical and enzyme histochemical study showed gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) immunoreactivity and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in the mouse adrenal gland. Weak GABA immunoreactivity was seen in clusters of chromaffin cells showing noradrenaline fluorescence. This finding suggests that both GABA and noradrenaline may be released from the granules of noradrenaline cells by adequate stimuli. GABA-immunoreactive varicose nerve fibers densely contacted adrenaline cells and large ganglion cells, but they were sparse in the periphery of clusters of noradrenaline cells. AChE activity was strong in a few large ganglion cells and weak in chromaffin cells showing noradrenaline fluorescence, and was found in numerous nerve bundles and fibers of the medulla. AChE-active nerve fibers more densely contacted noradrenaline cells than adrenaline cells. By using double labeling technique, numerous GABA-immunoreactive nerve fibers in the medulla were reactive for AChE in the same sections. These results suggest that both GABA and acetylcholine may be colocalized in the intra-adrenal nerve fibers and may have some secretory effects on the chromaffin cells.