Tyrosine hydroxylase: delayed activation in central noradrenergic neurons and induction in adrenal medulla elicited by stimulation of central cholinergic receptors.

The centrally active muscarinic agonist, oxotremorine, elicited an up to 2-fold dose-dependent (0.25-1.5 mg/kg) increase in the activity of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) in the rat nucleus locus coeruleus (LC) and adrenal medulla. The response occurred in LC after 24 to 48 hours and in adrenal medulla by 4 to 8 hours, peaked in LC at 72 hours and adrenal medulla at 16 to 24 hours and persisted up to 2 weeks in both tissues. In brain the effect appeared confined to cell bodies of noradrenergic neurons. The activity of dopamine beta-hydroxylase increased in adrenal medulla (40%) but not in brain. Immunotitration with anti-TH serum demonstrated that the increase of TH activity in LC is due to increased catalytic activity (activation), whereas in adrenal medulla it is due to a transynaptically mediated accumulation of enzyme protein (induction). Physostigmine (1.0 mg/kg), pilocarpine (25-50 mg/kg) and nicotine (10 mg/kg) increased TH activity in LC and adrenal. We conclude that stimulation of central cholinergic receptors of the muscarinic type results in a delayed and protracted activaiton of TH but not of dopamine beta-hydroxylase in cell bodies of central noradrenergic neurons, and reflexly, to transynaptic induction of TH and dopamine beta-hydroxylase in the adrenal medulla.