Isolated chromaffin cells from adrenal medulla contain primarily monoamine oxidase B.

Cultured chromaffin cells from bovine adrenal medulla were found to contain primarily the B form of monoamine oxidase. This monoamine oxidase B enzyme was somewhat distinct from B enzymes from other sources, in that noradrenaline was a much poorer substrate than serotonin. Nonetheless, studies with selective inhibitors of the A form (clorgyline) and the B form [(-)-deprenyl] confirmed that chromaffin cell monoamine oxidase was the B form. The observation that chromaffin cell monoamine oxidase has poor affinity for catecholamines is consistent with physiological needs that require the cell to synthesize and store large amounts of catecholamines.