Localization of biogenic amines and neuropeptides in adrenal medullary cells of birds

The present article reviews the immunohistochemical findings on the localization of biogenic amines and neuropeptides in adrenal medullary cells of birds. In the chicken, about 70% of medullary cells are adrenaline-containing cells and the rest of cells seem to be noradrenaline-containing cells. The ratio of adrenaline-cells to noradrenaline-cells extremely varies among avian species. Besides adrenaline and noradrenaline, medullary cells of birds contain many kinds of biogenic amines and neuropeptides: serotonin, galanin, cholecystokinin, somatostatin, enkephalin, neuropeptide tyrosine and atrial natriuretic peptide. The existence of these bioactive substances in medullary cells also exhibits interspecies heterogeneity. In the chicken, serotonin and galanin are contained in both adrenaline- and noradrenaline-cells of the adrenal gland. Cholecystokinin- and somatostatin-immunoreactivity is restricted to adrenaline-containing cells. Enkephalin-immunoreactivity is seen in both adrenaline- and noradrenaline-cells, but in about half of medullary cells. Neuropeptide tyrosine-immunoreactivity is found in the adrenal gland of the chick embryo and newly hatched chick, but not in the adult chicken. Serotonin and these neuropeptides may be selectively coreleased with adrenaline and/or noradrenaline from adrenal medullary cells of the chicken.