Skip to main content
PMC home page
British Journal of Pharmacology logoLink to British Journal of Pharmacology
. 1990 Feb;99(2):279–284. doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1990.tb14694.x

Presynaptic alpha 2-autoinhibition in a vascular neuroeffector junction where ATP and noradrenaline act as co-transmitters.

J M Bulloch 1, K Starke 1
PMCID: PMC1917366  PMID: 1970268

Abstract

1. alpha 2-Autoinhibition of transmitter release was investigated in the largest rami caecales of the rabbit ileocolic artery. Vasoconstriction, elicited by electrical field stimulation or by exogenous agonists, was measured as an increase in perfusion pressure. 2. Short periods of electrical stimulation elicited monophasic vasoconstriction, whereas longer periods (greater than 10 s) produced biphasic vasoconstriction. Prazosin had no significant effect on the first component of the biphasic vasoconstriction elicited by electrical stimulation, but did reduce the second component at higher frequencies. alpha, beta-Methylene ATP significantly attenuated the first component whilst the second component was relatively resistant. 3. The alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonist yohimbine did not change responses evoked by very short pulse trains (less than 2 s) but enhanced responses to longer pulse trains. When vasoconstriction was biphasic, both phases were potentiated by yohimbine. 4. The results indicate that the vasoconstriction elicited by brief trains of sympathetic nerve impulses is mainly or exclusively mediated by ATP, whereas at longer pulse trains a noradrenergic component comes into play. The potentiation produced by yohimbine is due to interruption of presynaptic alpha 2-adrenoceptor-mediated autoinhibition of transmitter release. The autoinhibition affects both purinergic and adrenergic components of sympathetic neurotransmission.

Full text

PDF
284

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Auch-Schwelk W., Starke K., Steppeler A. Experimental conditions required for the enhancement by alpha-adrenoceptor antagonists of noradrenaline release in the rabbit ear artery. Br J Pharmacol. 1983 Mar;78(3):543–551. doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1983.tb08814.x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Bulloch J. M., Docherty J. R., Flavahan N. A., McGrath J. C., McKean C. E. Difference in the potency of alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonists and antagonists between the pithed rabbit and rat. Br J Pharmacol. 1987 Jul;91(3):457–466. doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1987.tb11237.x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Bulloch J. M., McGrath J. C. Blockade of vasopressor and vas deferens responses by alpha,beta-methylene ATP in the pithed rat. Br J Pharmacol. 1988 May;94(1):103–108. doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1988.tb11504.x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Bulloch J. M., McGrath J. C. Selective blockade by nifedipine of 'purinergic' rather than adrenergic nerve-mediated vasopressor responses in the pithed rat. Br J Pharmacol. 1988 Nov;95(3):695–700. doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1988.tb11695.x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Burnstock G., Warland J. J. A pharmacological study of the rabbit saphenous artery in vitro: a vessel with a large purinergic contractile response to sympathetic nerve stimulation. Br J Pharmacol. 1987 Jan;90(1):111–120. doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1987.tb16830.x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Cheung D. W., Fujioka M. Inhibition of the excitatory junction potential in the guinea-pig saphenous artery by ANAPP3. Br J Pharmacol. 1986 Sep;89(1):3–5. doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1986.tb11114.x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Connaughton S., Docherty J. R. Evidence that SK & F 104078 does not differentiate between pre- and postjunctional alpha 2-adrenoceptors. Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol. 1988 Oct;338(4):379–382. doi: 10.1007/BF00172113. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Ellis J. L., Burnstock G. Angiotensin neuromodulation of adrenergic and purinergic co-transmission in the guinea-pig vas deferens. Br J Pharmacol. 1989 Aug;97(4):1157–1164. doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1989.tb12574.x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Flavahan N. A., Grant T. L., Greig J., McGrath J. C. Analysis of the alpha-adrenoceptor-mediated, and other, components in the sympathetic vasopressor responses of the pithed rat. Br J Pharmacol. 1985 Sep;86(1):265–274. doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1985.tb09458.x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Ishikawa S. Actions of ATP and alpha, beta-methylene ATP on neuromuscular transmission and smooth muscle membrane of the rabbit and guinea-pig mesenteric arteries. Br J Pharmacol. 1985 Dec;86(4):777–787. doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1985.tb11099.x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Kennedy C., Saville V. L., Burnstock G. The contributions of noradrenaline and ATP to the responses of the rabbit central ear artery to sympathetic nerve stimulation depend on the parameters of stimulation. Eur J Pharmacol. 1986 Apr 2;122(3):291–300. doi: 10.1016/0014-2999(86)90409-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Machaly M., Dalziel H. H., Sneddon P. Evidence for ATP as a cotransmitter in dog mesenteric artery. Eur J Pharmacol. 1988 Feb 16;147(1):83–91. doi: 10.1016/0014-2999(88)90636-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. McGrath J. C., Flavahan N. A., McKean C. E. alpha 1- and alpha 2-Adrenoceptor-mediated pressor and chronotropic effects in the rat and rabbit. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol. 1982;4 (Suppl 1):S101–S107. doi: 10.1097/00005344-198200041-00021. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Muramatsu I. Evidence for sympathetic, purinergic transmission in the mesenteric artery of the dog. Br J Pharmacol. 1986 Mar;87(3):478–480. doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1986.tb10187.x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Muramatsu I., Ohmura T., Oshita M. Comparison between sympathetic adrenergic and purinergic transmission in the dog mesenteric artery. J Physiol. 1989 Apr;411:227–243. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1989.sp017570. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Ramme D., Regenold J. T., Starke K., Busse R., Illes P. Identification of the neuroeffector transmitter in jejunal branches of the rabbit mesenteric artery. Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol. 1987 Sep;336(3):267–273. doi: 10.1007/BF00172677. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Ruffolo R. R., Jr, Sulpizio A. C., Nichols A. J., DeMarinis R. M., Hieble J. P. Pharmacologic differentiation between pre- and postjunctional alpha 2-adrenoceptors by SK&F 104078. Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol. 1987 Oct;336(4):415–418. doi: 10.1007/BF00164875. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Sneddon P., Burnstock G. ATP as a co-transmitter in rat tail artery. Eur J Pharmacol. 1984 Oct 30;106(1):149–152. doi: 10.1016/0014-2999(84)90688-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Sneddon P., Burnstock G. Inhibition of excitatory junction potentials in guinea-pig vas deferens by alpha, beta-methylene-ATP: further evidence for ATP and noradrenaline as cotransmitters. Eur J Pharmacol. 1984 Apr 13;100(1):85–90. doi: 10.1016/0014-2999(84)90318-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Sneddon P., Westfall D. P., Fedan J. S. Cotransmitters in the motor nerves of the guinea pig vas deferens: electrophysiological evidence. Science. 1982 Nov 12;218(4573):693–695. doi: 10.1126/science.6291151. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Starke K. Regulation of noradrenaline release by presynaptic receptor systems. Rev Physiol Biochem Pharmacol. 1977;77:1–124. doi: 10.1007/BFb0050157. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Stjärne L., Astrand P. Discrete events measure single quanta of adenosine 5'-triphosphate secreted from sympathetic nerves of guinea-pig and mouse vas deferens. Neuroscience. 1984 Sep;13(1):21–28. doi: 10.1016/0306-4522(84)90256-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Stjärne L., Astrand P. Relative pre- and postjunctional roles of noradrenaline and adenosine 5'-triphosphate as neurotransmitters of the sympathetic nerves of guinea-pig and mouse vas deferens. Neuroscience. 1985 Mar;14(3):929–946. doi: 10.1016/0306-4522(85)90155-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Story D. F., McCulloch M. W., Rand M. J., Standford-Starr C. A. Conditions required for the inhibitory feedback loop in noradrenergic transmission. Nature. 1981 Sep 3;293(5827):62–65. doi: 10.1038/293062a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Trachte G. J. Angiotensin effects on vas deferens adrenergic and purinergic neurotransmission. Eur J Pharmacol. 1988 Feb 9;146(2-3):261–269. doi: 10.1016/0014-2999(88)90301-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Trachte G. J. The influence of prostaglandins on neurotransmission in the rabbit isolated vas deferens. Prostaglandins. 1985 Jan;29(1):47–59. doi: 10.1016/0090-6980(85)90150-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. von Kügelgen I., Starke K. Noradrenaline and adenosine triphosphate as co-transmitters of neurogenic vasoconstriction in rabbit mesenteric artery. J Physiol. 1985 Oct;367:435–455. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1985.sp015834. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from British Journal of Pharmacology are provided here courtesy of The British Pharmacological Society

RESOURCES