Subcellular fractionation of splenic nerve: ATP, chromogranin A and dopamine beta-hydroxylase in noradrenergic vesicles.

The subcellular particles in axons of the splenic nerve have been studied by centifrugation techniques. By differential centifrugation, five different types of particle could be distinguished and partly separated: noradrenaline-containing particles (noradrenergic vesicles), large and small lysosomes, mitochondria, and microsomal particles. In density gradient centrifugation, only one type of noradrenergic vesicle could he demonstrated. The noradrenergic vesicles and the mitochondria contain ATP. Two proteins (chromogranin A and dopamine beta-hydroxylase) are present in the noradrenergic vesicles.