Residual catecholamines in extrinsically denervated guinea-pig ileum.

1. Concentrations of noradrenaline, adrenaline and dopamine were measured in the submucosa and myenteric plexus of innervated and extrinsically denervated guinea-pig ileum using a sensitive radioisotope enzymatic assay for catecholamines. 2. Subcellular fractionation studies indicated that the microsomal fraction obtained from both layers of the normal ileum was greatly enriched with noradrenaline compared to the total homogenate. Low levels of adrenaline and dopamine were also detected in both layers of the ileum. 3. After extrinsic denervation or pretreatment with reserpine, noradrenaline was reduced to less than 3% and could no longer be visualized histochemically. Small proportions of the adrenaline and dopamine also disappeared after extrinsic denervation. 4. The residual amounts of noradrenaline, adrenaline and dopamine present after extrinsic denervation were not sensitive to reserpine and were not concentrated in microsomal fractions suggesting that these amines are not stored as neurotransmitters in intrinsic neurons of the intestine.