Modulation of noradrenergic transmission in the rabbit ear artery by dopamine

Increased plasma free dopamine after treatment with atenolol and oxprenolol in essential hypertension

In 19 men aged 50 with essential hypertension, 18 weeks' treatment with atenolol (n = 9) or oxprenolol (n = 10) increased supine plasma free dopamine concentrations by 78% (p less than 0.05) and 121% (p less than 0.001) respectively. Increments in plasma dopamine were observed in all patients except for one treated with atenolol. Supine peripheral venous adrenaline and noradrenaline concentrations were not influenced by beta-blockade. The mechanism and significance of the present elevation of plasma free dopamine by beta-blockade are unknown. However, increased plasma free dopamine may be involved in the hypotensive effect of chronic beta-adrenergic blockade, both beta-1 selective and non-selective, and may lend further support to decreased dopaminergic activity in essential hypertension.

Accumulation and release of adrenaline, and the modulation by adrenaline of noradrenaline release from rabbit blood vessels in vitro

The accumulation of (-)-3H-adrenaline (3H-A) by rabbit isolated aorta was studied. In all experiments, monoamine oxidase and catechol-O-methyltransferase were inhibited by treatment with pargyline and 3',4'-dihydroxy-2-methyl-propiophenone, respectively. The relationship between the accumulation of 3H derived from 3H-A and the duration of incubation was linear. The 3H-accumulation after 3 h incubation was 22.5 ml/g. In reserpine-treated tissue, the 3H-accumulation levelled off after 30 min and was 8.5 ml/g after 3 h. The concentration of 3H-A or (-)-3H-noradrenaline (3H-NA) and the 3H-accumulation (ml/g) were inversely related. At 10(-8) M, the 1-hour accumulation of 3H derived from 3H-A and 3H-NA was 7.8 and 15.2 ml/g, respectively. With increasing concentrations the accumulation values approached each other. The accumulation of 3H derived from 3H-A by reserpine-treated tissue also showed an inverse relationship with concentration. The accumulation of 3H derived from 3H-A was dependent on the bath temperature. Storage of tissue (0-5 days in salt solution without equilibration with 95% O2/5% CO2; 4 degrees C) did not affect the accumulation of 3H derived from 3H-A. Thereafter (7-14 days), the accumulation decreased. The inhibitory potency (IC50; -log M) of desipramine, cocaine, propranolol, isoprenaline, and normetanephrine on accumulation of 3H derived from 3H-A was found to be 8.26; 6.50; 5.48; 4.88, and 4.02, respectively. The maximal degree of inhibition was almost the same for these drugs, while that of clonidine and corticosterone was 50 and 20%, respectively. In the presence of desipramine, either clonidine, corticosterone or isoprenaline reduces the accumulation of 3H derived from 3H-A. Ouabain and iodoacetic acid, but not sodium cyanide and 2,4-dinitrophenol, reduced the accumulation of 3H derived from 3H-A. Anoxia (95% N2/5% CO2; 37 degrees C; 1-24 h) did not alter the accumulation of 3H derived from 3H-A. Glucose deprivation alone or combined with anoxia markedly reduced the 3H-accumulation. The release of 3H-A from rabbit isolated aorta was studied. This release was compared with that of 3H-NA. The stimulation-evoked 3H-overflow from aorta preloaded with 3H-A decreased with repeated stimulation. In contrast, prestimulation enhanced subsequent stimulation-evoked 3H-overflows. For both 3H-amines, the 3H-overflow increased concomitantly to the same degree with the number of pulses. The time course of 3H-overflows with either 3H-A or 3H-NA was compared.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Release of 3H-noradrenaline from rabbit isolated ear artery

The stimulation-evoked 3H-overflow from rabbit isolated ear arteries preincubated with 3H-noradrenaline was studied. Three strips were derived from each central artery. The strips were incubated (30 min.) with 3H-noradrenaline (10(-7) M) and the spontaneous 3H-outflow and stimulation-evoked 3H-overflow were followed by fractional collection. After a wash-out period (75 min.), the strips were stimulated (225 mA; 150 monophasic pulses; 3 Hz; 0.5 msec.) several times. The initial stimulation-evoked 3H-overflow (S1) was about 5-fold higher than the subsequent five 3H-overflows (S2-S6) which remained almost constant. Bretylium (10(-5) M), tetrodotoxin (10(-6) M), and omission of Ca2+ from the physiological salt solution reduced the stimulation-evoked 3H-overflow by maximally 52%, 77% and 62%, respectively. An increase in stimulation current from 50 to 225 mA caused a continuous rise in stimulation-evoked 3H-overflow, which tended to be Ca2(+)-sensitive. The stimulation-evoked 3H-overflow was frequency-dependent: at 1-4 Hz, the 3H-overflows were the same; at 8 and 16 Hz, they increased. Cocaine (3 x 10(-5) M) plus corticosterone (4 x 10(-5) M) enhanced the stimulation-evoked 3H-overflow at 1-8 Hz, while it had no effect at 16 Hz. Propranolol (3 x 10(-7) M) did not antagonize this enhancement. An increase in number of pulses from 10 to 1000 in the stimulus caused a corresponding rise in the evoked 3H-overflow. This was also the case when cocaine plus corticosterone were present.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Pre- and postjunctional effects of neuropeptide Y on the rabbit isolated ear artery

1. In the isolated perfused and superfused rabbit ear artery, neuropeptide Y (NPY, 0.3-100 nmol/l) had no direct vasoconstrictor action, but produced a concentration-dependent and reversible enhancement of vasoconstrictor responses to both sympathetic nerve stimulation and exogenous noradrenaline. 2. In arteries in which the noradrenergic transmitter stores had been radiolabelled with [3H]-noradrenaline, 100 nmol/l NPY inhibited the stimulation-induced (1 Hz for 30 s) release of radioactivity, but the lower concentrations tested (10 and 30 nmol/l) had no effect. NPY (10, 30 and 100 nmol/l) had no effect on the resting release of radioactivity. 3. Thus, NPY in low concentrations enhances vasoconstrictor responses in the rabbit ear artery by a postjunctional action; prejunctionally, NPY inhibits stimulation-induced transmitter release when it is present in high concentrations.

Neuroleptic-induced hypothermia in mice: lack of evidence for a central mechanism

The present study investigated the ability of neuroleptic drugs to induce hypothermia in mice when they were administered intraperitoneally (i.p.) or intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.). Twelve neuroleptics belonging to five chemical classes including phenothiazines, butyrophenones, benzamides, thioxanthenes and diphenylbutylpiperidines were injected i.p. All of them, except benzamides, induced a dose-dependent decrease in rectal temperature. Neuroleptics were administered i.c.v. via cannulae previously implanted in mice to determine whether this response might have a central origin. None of the drugs tested induced hypothermia at doses which did not produce toxic effects. These negative results suggest that neuroleptics act to elicit hypothermia via a peripheral, rather than a central mechanism. Since some neuroleptics possess alpha-adrenolytic properties which could induce hypothermia by promoting vasodilatation, we attempted to antagonize the hypothermia produced by peripheral administration of two neuroleptics with phenylephrine, an alpha-adrenoceptor agonist that does not cross the blood-brain barrier. The hypothermia induced by both chlorpromazine and haloperidol was attenuated by phenylephrine, supporting the view that peripheral alpha-adrenoceptors may mediate neuroleptic-induced hypothermia.

Hemodynamic effects of an oral dopamine receptor agonist (fenoldopam) in patients with congestive heart failure

Dopamine receptor stimulation causes vascular and neurohumoral responses that may be beneficial in patients with heart failure. Oral inactivity, emesis and adrenergic-induced arrhythmias have limited the use of currently available compounds. Fenoldopam (SKF-82526-J) is a new, orally available, selective, dopamine-receptor agonist with potent renal vasodilating properties (six times that of dopamine) without positive inotropic or adrenergic activity. Drug efficacy was clinically evaluated in 10 patients with heart failure after single oral doses of placebo and 50, 100 and 200 mg of medication. Placebo produced no changes. Peak efficacy was noted 30 minutes to 1 hour after the 200 mg dose with mean blood pressure decreasing from 96 +/- 15 (mean +/- SD) to 83 +/- 8 mm Hg (p less than 0.05), pulmonary capillary wedge pressure decreasing from 23 +/- 6 to 20 +/- 8 mm Hg (p less than 0.05) and mean pulmonary artery pressure decreasing from 32 +/- 9 to 29 +/- 8 mm Hg (p less than 0.05). Systemic vascular resistance decreased from 1,987 +/- 887 to 1,191 +/- 559 dynes.s.cm-5 (p less than 0.05) with a subsequent 55% increase in cardiac index from 2.2 +/- 1.1 to 3.1 +/- 1.3 liters/min per m2 (p less than 0.05). Heart rate and right atrial pressure did not change (p greater than 0.05). No emesis or new tachycardia was noted at any dose. Baseline hemodynamics generally returned within 3 to 4 hours. Fenoldopam, therefore, is a short-acting, orally effective drug that decreases systemic vascular resistance and increases cardiac index in patients with heart failure and represents a new class of oral compounds that may be useful in treating such patients.

Dopexamine: a novel agonist at peripheral dopamine receptors and beta 2-adrenoceptors

Dopexamine is an agonist at peripheral dopamine receptors and at beta 2-adrenoceptors. Dopexamine has approximately one-third the potency of dopamine in stimulating the vascular DA1-receptor in the dog, resulting in a fall in renal vascular resistance of 20% at 2.3 X 10(-8) mol kg-1 (i.a.). Prejunctional DA2-receptors are also stimulated by dopexamine, resulting in a reduction of neurogenic vasoconstriction in the rabbit isolated ear artery (IC50 of 1.15 X 10(-6)M) and of neurogenic tachycardia in the cat (ID50 of 5.4 X 10(-8) mol kg-1, i.v.), with a potency six and four times less respectively than that of dopamine. By contrast, dopexamine is approximately 60 times more potent than dopamine as an agonist at the beta 2-adrenoceptor of the guinea-pig isolated tracheal chain, with an EC50 of 1.5 X 10(-6)M. Both dopexamine and dopamine are weak agonists at the guinea-pig atrial beta 1-adrenoceptor over the concentration range 10(-7) to 10(-4) M, but dopexamine has an intrinsic activity of only 0.16 relative to dopamine. Dopexamine does not stimulate postjunctional alpha 1- or alpha 2-adrenoceptors in the canine isolated saphenous vein, whereas dopamine is an agonist, approximately 120 times less potent than noradrenaline. Unlike dopamine and salbutamol, dopexamine does not cause arrhythmias in the guinea-pig isolated perfused heart at doses of up to 10(-5) mol, which is a thousand times the minimum cardiostimulant dose. The combination of agonist properties at peripheral dopamine receptors and at beta 2-adrenoceptors, with little or no activity at alpha- and beta 1-adrenoceptors gives dopexamine a novel pharmacological profile. This may confer advantages over dopamine in the treatment of acute heart failure.

Effect of [D-Ala2,Met5]enkephalinamide and [D-Ala2,D-Leu5]enkephalin on cholinergic and noradrenergic neurotransmission in isolated atria

In rabbit isolated atria, [D-Ala2,Met5]enkephalinamide and [D-Ala2,D-Leu5]enkephalin (0.1-3 microM) inhibited responses to cholinergic nerve stimulation in a concentration-dependent manner without affecting responses to exogenous acetylcholine. The inhibitory effect was blocked by the opiate receptor antagonist naloxone (1 microM). In rabbit atria in which the transmitter acetylcholine stores had been radioactively labelled by preincubating the tissue in [3H]choline, tetrodotoxin (100 ng/ml) significantly (P less than 0.001) blocked the stimulation-induced (2 Hz for 3 min) release of radioactivity. Both [D-Ala2,Met5]enkephalinamide and [D-Ala2,D-Leu5]enkephalin (0.3 and 1 microM) significantly decreased stimulation-induced radioactivity release and their effects were blocked by naloxone (1 microM). In rat isolated atria, [D-Ala2,Met5]enkephalinamide and [D-Ala2,D-Leu5]enkephalin (0.3-3 microM) inhibited responses to cholinergic nerve stimulation without affecting responses to exogenous acetylcholine. The inhibitory effect was blocked by naloxone (1 microM). In guinea-pig isolated atria, responses to cholinergic nerve stimulation were unaffected by the enkephalin analogues. In rabbit, rat and guinea-pig isolated atria, responses to noradrenergic nerve stimulation and exogenous noradrenaline were unaffected by the enkephalin analogues.

Inhibitory effect of dopamine on canine gastric fundus

The mechanism of the inhibitory effect of dopamine on canine stomach fundus was studied in longitudinal and circular muscle fundus strips, contracted by transmural electrical stimulation or by methacholine. Results obtained for longitudinal and circular strips were similar. Dopamine (1 X 10(-6)-1 X 10(-4) M) concentration-dependently inhibited frequency-response curves to electrical stimulation; these concentrations did not change the resting tone of the strips. Dopamine (1 X 10(-4) M), tested on contractions of similar amplitude induced in the same strips by electrical stimulation at 0.5 Hz and by methacholine, inhibited the electrically induced contractions but had little influence on the contractions induced by methacholine. The inhibition of the electrically induced contractions by dopamine 1 X 10(-4) M was not influenced by the presence of cocaine 3 X 10(-5) M or hydrocortisone 3 X 10(-5) M. The alpha 1- and alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonist phentolamine and the alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonist rauwolscine markedly antagonized the inhibitory effect of dopamine on the response to electrical stimulation at 0.5 Hz. The alpha 1-adrenoceptor antagonist prazosin and the dopamine receptor antagonists haloperidol and domperidone had no effect. The dopamine receptor antagonist metoclopramide decreased the inhibitory effect of dopamine but had a similar effect on the inhibition caused by noradrenaline. These results indicate that the inhibitory effect of dopamine in the dog gastric fundus is mainly mediated by an interaction with alpha 2-adrenoceptors on the intramural cholinergic neurons; this effect is largely direct since it was not influenced by cocaine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effects of dopamine on neuromuscular transmission in the guinea-pig mesenteric artery

The effects of dopamine on neuromuscular transmission in the guinea-pig mesenteric artery were investigated using a microelectrode method. Dopamine did not modify the membrane potential or the membrane resistance of the smooth muscle, but did reduce the amplitude of excitatory junction potentials (e.j.p.) and enhance the facilitation of e.j.p. produced by repetitive stimulation. Phentolamine (10(-7) M) enhanced the amplitude and the facilitation of the e.j.p., and with the addition of dopamine (10(-6) M) there was a reduction in the amplitude of e.j.p. but not in the facilitation. Haloperidol and sulpiride (greater than 10(-6) M) increased the amplitude of e.j.p. without altering the postjunctional membrane properties. Haloperidol and sulpiride did not increase the facilitation of e.j.p. produced by repetitive stimulation. In the presence of haloperidol or sulpiride (10(-5) M), dopamine (10(-6) M) did not suppress the amplitude of the e.j.p. These results indicate that in the guinea-pig mesenteric artery, dopamine inhibits the release of transmitter at the presynaptic membrane.

Effects of dopamine and apomorphine on the response of rabbit isolated atria to sympathetic nerve stimulation

In isolated rabbit atria, dopamine (10(-6) M to 3 X 10(-6) M), in the presence of cocaine and atropine, inhibits the chronotropic responses to electrical stimulation of the sympathetic nerves without influencing the responses to isoprenaline. The inhibitory effect of dopamine is antagonized by cis-flupenthixol in a concentration (2.5 X 10(-6) M) that does not antagonize the inhibitory effect of clonidine. Phentolamine, in a concentration (10(-5) M) that antagonizes clonidine, does not influence the inhibitory effect of dopamine. Apomorphine (10(-6) M) also produces an inhibition of the nerve stimulation-induced chronotropic responses that can be prevented by cis-flupenthixol. These data suggest that prejunctional dopamine receptors are present in rabbit atria.

Effects of DPI (2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenylimino)-imidazolidine) on prejunctional alpha-adrenoceptors and prejunctional dopamine receptors in the rabbit ear artery

The effects of DPI on transmitter noradrenaline release were examined in rabbit isolated ear arteries previously incubated in [ 3H ]noradrenaline. DPI (0.1 mumol/l) reduced transmitter release with periarterial electrical stimulation at 1 Hz (1 ms pulses, supramaximal voltage for 30 s), which is consistent with an agonistic effect of DPI on prejunctional alpha-adrenoceptors. At stimulation frequencies of 2 or 5 Hz DPI alone did not affect release, however in the presence of phentolamine (3 mumol/l, which increased release per se) DPI again significantly reduced release; this effect was blocked by metoclopramide (1 mumol/l) indicating an agonistic effect of DPI on prejunctional dopamine receptors.

Experimental conditions required for the enhancement by alpha-adrenoceptor antagonists of noradrenaline release in the rabbit ear artery

1 Segments of the rabbit ear artery were preincubated with (-)-[3H]-noradrenaline and then perfused/superfused and stimulated by transmural electrical pulses. The outflow of [3H]-noradrenaline, separated from its metabolites by column chromatography, was determined. 2 Tetrodotoxin abolished, cocaine increased, and clonidine reduced the overflow of [3H]-noradrenaline elicited by 10 shocks at 0.2 Hz, 10 shocks at 2 Hz or 100 shocks at 2 Hz. 3 The effects of yohimbine (0.1 or 1 microM), phentolamine (1 microM) and piperoxan (1 or 10 microM) depended on the stimulation conditions. No antagonist increased the overflow of [3H]-noradrenaline evoked by 10 pulses at 0.2 Hz, but all markedly increased the overflow evoked by 100 pulses at 2 Hz. Only piperoxan (10 microM) slightly enhanced the overflow at 10 pulses, 2 Hz. The effects of yohimbine and piperoxan were similar in arteries not exposed to cocaine and in those that were perfused/superfused with medium containing cocaine (10 microM) after preincubation. 4 It is concluded that yohimbine, phentolamine and piperoxan increase the release of noradrenaline only when the concentration of noradrenaline in the biophase of the ear artery is sufficiently high. The effect is, hence, an anti-noradrenaline effect and due to the blockade of presynaptic alpha-adrenoceptors. A second prerequisite for the release-enhancing effect appears to be a sufficient length of the pulse train, indicating that the alpha-adrenergic auto-inhibition develops relatively slowly.

Are the prejunctional histamine receptors on sympathetic nerve terminals in guinea-pig isolated atria activated during anaphylaxis in vitro?

In isolated atria from sensitized guinea-pigs, antigenic challenge with ovalbumin induces an anaphylactic reaction in which there is an increased rate and force of contraction. At the same time, stimulation-induced release of [3H] noradrenaline is inhibited by 40%. Cimetidine decreased the tachycardia occurring during anaphylaxis but no effect on the inhibition of stimulation-induced transmitter release. It is known that antigenic challenge of sensitized guinea-pig atria release histamine from mast cells; this histamine acts postjunctionally to increase heart rate. However, the inhibition of noradrenergic transmitter release is not due to the stimulation of prejunctional inhibitory histamine receptors.

Peripheral dopamine receptors, potential targets for a new class of antihypertensive agents. Part I: Subclassification and functional description

The dopamine receptors of the peripheral cardiovascular system are not a pharmacologically uniform population. A number of studies indicate that they belong to at least two distinct subtypes for which it is proposed to adopt the name DA1- and DA2-dopamine receptors in an attempt to follow the nomenclature presently in fashion for several vascular receptors. Typical DA1-dopamine receptors are those occurring postjunctionally in the renal and mesenteric arterial beds where their stimulation mediates direct smooth muscle relaxation. Typical DA2-dopamine receptors are those present on postganglionic sympathetic neurons (axonal varicosities and perhaps ganglionic cell bodies) where their excitation leads, under appropriate physiological conditions, to a reduction of the neural release of norepinephrine. The latter effect can manifest itself by a passive fall in vascular resistance and heart rate. Other populations of dopamine receptors not yet well characterized pharmacologically but of theoretical interest as additional potential target sites for cardiovascular drugs might be present on nephrons and in the adrenal cortex. Their stimulation can mediate a natriuretic effect and a reduction of aldosterone release, respectively. The pharmacological evidence favoring the subclassification of cardiovascular dopamine receptors into two distinct subtypes is reviewed. Furthermore, the main agonists and antagonists of these receptors and the complexity of their pharmacological profile are mentioned. Part II of this minireview will be dedicated to the description of the sites and mechanisms of the antihypertensive action of dopamine receptor agonists.

Cardiovascular dopamine receptors: physiological, pharmacological and therapeutic implications

Dopamine receptor activation can lead to pronounced changes in cardiovascular function. The myriad of effects produced by dopamine receptor agonists results from the activation of dopamine receptors located at different anatomical sites in the cardiovascular system. Further basic research is required to better characterize these dopamine receptors so as to allow the development of more specific dopamine receptor agonists. Endogenous dopamine may be involved in the physiological control of fluid and electrolyte balance and continuing research efforts in this area should provide for a better understanding of the role of cardiovascular dopamine receptors in the maintenance of overall circulatory homeostasis. Cardiovascular dopamine receptor stimulation represents an important and promising approach for the development of novel therapeutic agents for the treatment of hypertension, angina pectoris, congestive heart failure and acute renal failure.

Effects of impromidine, a specific H2-receptor agonist and 2(2-pyridyl)-ethylamine, an H1-receptor agonist, on stimulation-induced release of [3H]-noradrenaline in guinea-pig isolated atria

1 The specific histamine H2-receptor agonist, impromidine (3-100 nmol/l), increased the rate and force of beating of guinea-pig isolated atria. These effects were blocked by the H2-receptor antagonist, cimetidine (30 mumol/l), but not by the H1-receptor antagonist, mepyramine (0.1 mumol/l). 2 In atria that had previously been incubated in [3H]-noradrenaline, impromidine (3-100 nmol/l) had no effect on the resting efflux of radioactivity, but concentrations of 50 and 100 nmol/l significantly increased the efflux induced by electrical stimulation (2 Hz for 10 s) of the intramural sympathetic nerves by approximately 38%; lower concentrations (3, 10 and 25 nmol/l) had no effect. 3 The effect of impromidine in enhancing stimulation-induced efflux of radioactivity was abolished by cimetidine (30 mumol/l) and by mepyramine (0.1 mumol/l). It was unaffected by the alpha-adrenoceptor antagonist, phentolamine (30 mumol/l). 4 Impromidine produced some inhibition of the uptake of [3H]-noradrenaline, but this did not account for the enhancement of the stimulation-induced efflux of radioactivity, since impromidine (50 mumol/l) still increased release in the presence of cocaine (30 mumol/l). 5 The specific H1-receptor agonist, 2-(2-pyridyl)-ethylamine (10-100 mumol/l), increased both the resting and stimulation-induced efflux of radioactivity. These effects were not blocked by mepyramine (0.1 mumol/l) or the beta-adrenoceptor antagonist, metoprolol (0.1 mumol/l). 6 The prejunctional inhibitory histamine receptors in guniea-pig atria are not classifiable into H1- or H2-type by the use of relatively specific postjunctional histamine H1- or H2-receptor agonists and antagonists.

Effects of histamine on the resting and stimulation-induced release of [3H]-noradrenaline in guinea-pig isolated atria

1 The sympathetic transmitter stores of guinea-pig isolated atria were labelled with [3H]-noradrenaline. The effects of histamine (0.3 to 100 mumol/l) on resting and stimulation-induced (S-I, 2 Hz for 10 s) release of radioactivity were investigated. 2 Histamine, in low concentrations (0.3 and 1 mumol/l) had no effect on resting release but inhibited S-I release of radioactivity. The inhibition was abolished by the H2-receptor antagonist, cimetidine (10 mumol/l) and also by the H1-receptor antagonist, mepyramine (1 mumol/l). 3 The inhibitory actions of histamine on S-I release were not due to indirect effects involving alpha-adrenoceptors, beta-adrenoceptors, muscarinic cholinoceptors or prostaglandin synthesis. 4 Histamine in a high concentration (100 mumol/l) increased the resting and S-I release of radioactivity. The increase in resting release was abolished by the neuronal uptake blocking drug cocaine (30 mumol/l) but the increase in S-I release was only partially blocked by cocaine.

Neuromuscular transmission and smooth muscle membrane properties in the guinea-pig ear artery

Effects of noradrenaline and alpha-adrenoceptor blocking agents on neuromuscular transmission of the guinea-pig ear artery were assessed using the micro-electrode method.1. The mean membrane potential, and length and time constants of the longitudinally oriented muscle cells were -64.5 +/- 5 mV (n = 150), 1.03 +/- 0.16 mm (n = 15) and 410 +/- 40 msec (n = 7) respectively. From the current-voltage relationship, weak outward current pulses produced an anomalous rectification of the membrane while stronger intensities produced a normal rectification of the membrane with a depolarization over 10-15 mV.2. Brief stimulation (0.1-0.5 msec) of the tissue produced an excitatory junction potential (e.j.p.). Facilitation produced by repetitive stimulation was evident only on very rare occasions. Higher stimulus intensities caused a stepwise increase of the amplitude of e.j.p.s.3. Spontaneously generated miniature excitatory junction potentials (m.e.j.p.s) were recorded from the muscle membrane. In many cells, the interval and amplitude histograms of m.e.j.p.s showed skew curves. On rare occasions, a bell-shaped amplitude distribution (quantal release of packeted noradrenaline (NA)) was observed.4. NA (> 3 x 10(-7)m) depolarized the membrane and increased the membrane resistance, as measured from the amplitude of the electrotonic potential. Phentolamine suppressed the NA-induced depolarization. However, high concentrations of phentolamine (> 10(-5)m) depolarized the membrane and increased the membrane resistance.5. NA (10(-8)m) caused no change in membrane potential though it suppressed the amplitude of an e.j.p. produced by a single stimulus, but did not suppress the amplitude of the subsequent e.j.p.s evoked by repetitive stimulation (0.2-2.0 Hz). A higher concentration of NA (3 x 10(-7)m) depolarized the membrane and markedly suppressed the amplitude of e.j.p.s. On the other hand, NA (10(-8) or 2 x 10(-8)m) generated burst discharges of m.e.j.p.s between silent periods or random generation.6. Phentolamine (10(-6)m) markedly enhanced the amplitude of e.j.p.s and caused a smooth facilitation in response to a train of stimuli with no effect on the membrane potential. A stepwise change in the amplitude of e.j.p.s was no longer observed at any given stimulus frequency and intensity.7. Phenoxybenzamine (10(-7)m) suppressed the amplitude of e.j.p.s with no change in the membrane potential.8. The results led to the conclusion that, at a concentration which has no effect on the post-junctional muscle membrane, NA and phentolamine seemed to be more effective on prejunctional adrenoceptors, while phenoxybenzamine seemed to have a greater effect on post-junctional adrenoceptors. NA depresses adrenergic transmission by negative feed-back, while the enhancing action of phentolamine can be explained partly by blocking of prejunctional adrenoceptors and, in addition, by an increase of NA release.

Actions of dopamine and apomorphine on the vasoconstrictor responses of perfused mesenteric arteries of mouse, rat and rabbit

Dopamine (10(-7)--10(-6) M) and apomorphine (5 x 10(-7)--5 x 10(-6) M) inhibited the vasoconstrictor responses of the perfused mesenteric artery preparations of rat, rabbit and mouse to adrenergic nerve stimulation but did not affect responses to added noradrenaline. The inhibitory effects of both dopamine and apomorphine were prevented by haloperidol (3 x 10(-7) M) but not by yohimbine (3 x 10(-8) M) in rat and rabbit mesenteric artery preparations. In contrast, yohimbine (3 x 10(-8) M), but not haloperidol, antagonized the inhibitory effect of dopamine and apomorphine in mouse mesenteric artery preparations. In higher concentrations, dopamine (10(-6)--10(-4) M) produced a direct vascoconstrictor effect, which involved post-junctional alpha-adrenoceptors in all three species. However, in preparations contracted with 10(-7) M 5-hydroxytryptamine and in the presence of phentolamine (3 x 10(-7) M) and propranolol (10(-6) M), dopamine (10(-6)--10(-4) M) produced a direct relaxant effect in rabbit mesenteric artery preparations but not in those of rat and mouse. It is suggested that inhibition of neurogenic vasoconstrictor responses, by dopamine and apomorphine, may be mediated through a specific prejunctional inhibitory dopamine receptor in the mesenteric artery of rat and rabbit whereas in the mouse they involve activation of alpha-adrenoceptors.

The role of presynaptic receptors in the cardiovascular actions of N,N-di-n-propyldopamine in the cat and dog

Intravenous administration of N,N-di-n-propyldopamine (DPDA: 50 and 200 micrograms/kg/min, i.v.) produces hypotensive and bradycardic effects in anaesthetized cats and dogs. These effects were abolished by ganglionic blockade and antagonized by haloperidol or (SR)-sulpiride suggesting a neurogenic mechanism of action, mediated by specific dopamine receptors. The renal blood flow increases to DPDA in dogs were resistant to ganglionic blockade indicating some activity at postsynaptic vascular dopamine receptors. Studies with DPDA in vivo administered via the intravertebral and intravenous routes suggested a peripheral site of action for the hypotensive effects of this compound. In vitro, in isolated perfused cat spleens prelabeled with 3H-noradrenaline, DPDA (0.01--1 microM) produced a concentration-dependent inhibition of tritium release elicited by nerve stimulation at 1 Hz which was selectively antagonized by 1 microM (SR)-sulpiride implicating presynaptic inhibitory dopamine receptors in the mediation of this effect. In isolated rabbit splenic arteries, contracted by prostaglandin-F2 alpha, dopamine,ADTN (2-amino-6,7-dihydroxytetrahydronaphthalene) and apomorphine produced concentration-dependent relaxations while DPDA exhibited only weak postsynaptic dopamine-like effects. In vivo DPDA reduced, in a frequency dependent manner, the end organ responses to sympathetic nerve stimulation in the cat nictitating membrane and in the dog renal vascular bed. Both effects were mediated through activation of presynaptic inhibitory dopamine receptors by DPDA. In conclusion these results suggest a predominantly presynaptic agonist effect for DPDA in vitro and a similarly important action in vivo, mediated mainly via dopamine receptors. Furthermore evidence is presented which suggests that pre- and postsynaptic dopamine receptors may differ in their pharmacological properties and that presynaptic dopamine receptors could be important target receptors in the development of novel antihypertensive drugs.

Inhibition by hydralazine of the conversion of dopamine to noradrenaline in rat atria in vitro and in vivo

1. Hydralazine (10 to 2000 microgramol/l) produced a concentration-dependent inhibition of the conversion of (3H)-dopamine to (3H)-noradrenaline in rat isolated atria. 2. In rats treated with hydralazine (2 mg/kg, i.p.), there was an inhibition of the conversion of (3H)-dopamine to (3)-noradrenaline in the intact artia in vivo. 3. Hydralazine treatment may result in the appearance of dopamine as a significant co-transmitter in noradrenergic nerves, and this may contribute to the antihypertensive effect of hydralazine.

Effects of metoclopramide and isoprenaline in the rat vas deferens; interactions with alpha-adrenoceptors

1 Metoclopramide (2.8 to 280 microM) augmented contractions of rat vas deferens preparations induced by field stimulation (6 Hz for 1 s). This effect was antagonized by phentolamine (0.1 microM). Metoclopramide (2.8 to 280 microM) did not affect phenylephrine-induced contractions. 2 Metoclopramide (2.8 to 280 microM) antagonized the inhibitory effects of clonidine on the contractions induced by field stimulation, but not the inhibitory effects of purine nucleosides. 3 From these results it is concluded that metoclopramide (2.8 to 280 microM) is a presynaptic alpha-adrenoceptor antagonist in the rat vas deferens. 4 Following beta-adrenoceptor blockade with (+/-)-propranolol (3.3 microM), (-)-isoprenaline (0.47 to 14 microM) inhibited responses to field stimulation but not to phenylephrine. These propranolol-resistant effects of isoprenaline were antagonized by metoclopramide (2.8 to 280 microM) and by phentolamine (0.1 to 10 microM), indicating that isoprenaline may stimulate presynaptic alpha-adrenoceptors in this preparation.

Modulation of sympathetic transmission by neuronally-released dopamine

1 When rabbits were pretreated with Fla-63, there was a marked inhibition of dopamine-beta-hydroxylase such that, after incubation of the ear arteries with [3H]-dopamine 47.2% of the tritium in the tissue was retained as unchanged dopamine. 2 [3H]-dopamine was released by stimulation of the sympathetic nerves in ear arteries taken from rabbits pretreated with Fla-63 and incubated with [3H]-dopamine. 3 The dopamine antagonists metoclopramide (1.0 microM) and ergometrine (1.0 microM) enhanced the stimulation-induced efflux of tritium in ear arteries taken from rabbits pretreated with Fla-63 and incubated with [3H]-dopamine, but not when the arteries were incubated with [3H]-noradrenaline. 4. These results suggest that if dopamine is present in the transmitter stores, it can be released by stimulation of the sympathetic nerves, and if the amount is adequate, it can activate an inhibitory feedback loop where prejunctional dopamine receptors are present.