THE RELEASE OF CATECHOLAMINES FROM THE ISOLATED CHROMAFFINE GRANULES OF THE ADRENAL MEDULLA USING SULPHYDRYL INHIBITORS

The influence of five sulphydryl inhibitors has been tested on isolated chromaffine granules of bovine adrenal medulla. The two mercury derivatives p-chloromercuribenzoic acid and p-choloromercuriphenylsulphonic acid exert a marked releasing activity on the catecholamines, ATP, and proteins of these granules. Three other compounds, iodosobenzoic acid, N-ethyl maleimide, and bis(2-succinylaminophenyl) disulphide, exert a similar action but to a lesser degree.Addition of glutathione to the incubation medium prevents the action of p-chloromercuribenzoic acid but does not reverse it.