Studies on secretion of catecholamine evoked by caffeine from the isolated perfused rat adrenal gland

Gintonin facilitates catecholamine secretion from the perfused adrenal medulla

The present study was designed to investigate the characteristics of gintonin, one of components isolated from Korean Ginseng on secretion of catecholamines (CA) from the isolated perfused model of rat adrenal gland and to clarify its mechanism of action. Gintonin (1 to 30 µg/ml), perfused into an adrenal vein, markedly increased the CA secretion from the perfused rat adrenal medulla in a dose-dependent fashion. The gintonin-evoked CA secretion was greatly inhibited in the presence of chlorisondamine (1 µM, an autonomic ganglionic bloker), pirenzepine (2 µM, a muscarinic M1 receptor antagonist), Ki14625 (10 µM, an LPA1/3 receptor antagonist), amiloride (1 mM, an inhibitor of Na+/Ca2+ exchanger), a nicardipine (1 µM, a voltage-dependent Ca2+ channel blocker), TMB-8 (1 µM, an intracellular Ca2+ antagonist), and perfusion of Ca2+-free Krebs solution with 5mM EGTA (a Ca2+chelater), while was not affected by sodium nitroprusside (100 µM, a nitrosovasodialtor). Interestingly, LPA (0.3~3 µM, an LPA receptor agonist) also dose-dependently enhanced the CA secretion from the adrenal medulla, but this facilitatory effect of LPA was greatly inhibited in the presence of Ki 14625 (10 µM). Moreover, acetylcholine (AC)-evoked CA secretion was greatly potentiated during the perfusion of gintonin (3 µg/ml). Taken together, these results demonstrate the first evidence that gintonin increases the CA secretion from the perfused rat adrenal medulla in a dose-dependent fashion. This facilitatory effect of gintonin seems to be associated with activation of LPA- and cholinergic-receptors, which are relevant to the cytoplasmic Ca2+ increase by stimulation of the Ca2+ influx as well as by the inhibition of Ca2+ uptake into the cytoplasmic Ca2+ stores, without the increased nitric oxide (NO). Based on these results, it is thought that gintonin, one of ginseng components, can elevate the CA secretion from adrenal medulla by regulating the Ca2+ mobilization for exocytosis, suggesting facilitation of cardiovascular system. Also, these findings show that gintonin might be at least one of ginseng-induced hypertensive components.

Influence of cytisine on catecholamine release in isolated perfused rat adrenal glands

The aim of the present study was to determine the characteristics of cytisine on the secretion of catecholamines (CA) in isolated perfused rat adrenal glands, and to clarify its mechanism of action. The release of CA evoked by the continuous infusion of cytisine (1.5 x 10(-5) M) was time-dependently reduced from 15 min following the initiation of cytisine infusion. Furthermore, upon the repeated injection of cytisine (5 x 10(-5) M), at 30 min intervals into an adrenal vein, the secretion of CA was rapidly decreased following the second injection. Tachyphylaxis to the release of CA was observed by the repeated administration of cytisine. The cytisine-induced secretion of CA was markedly inhibited by pretreatment with chlorisondamine, nicardipine, TMB-8, and the perfusion of Ca2+-free Krebs solution, while it was not affected by pirenzepine or diphenhydramine. Moreover, the secretion of CA evoked by ACh was time-dependently inhibited by the prior perfusion of cytisine (5 x 10(-6) M). Taken together, these experimental data suggest that cytisine causes secretion of catecholamines from the perfused rat adrenal glands in a calcium-dependent fashion through the activation of neuronal nicotinic ACh receptors located in adrenomedullary chromaffin cells. It also seems that the cytisine-evoked release of catecholamine is not relevant to the activation of cholinergic M1-muscarinic or histaminergic receptors.