title: Presynaptic noradrenergic alpha-receptors and modulation of 3H-noradrenaline release from rat brain synaptosomes.
abstract: The depolarization (15 mM K+)-induced release of 3H-NA from superfused rat brain synaptosomes and the effects of alpha-noradrenergic drugs thereon were studied. Noradrenaline (NA; in the presence of the uptake inhibitor desipramine) reduced synaptosomal 3H-NA release. Reduction of the concentration of calcium ions in the medium during K+ stimulation greatly enhanced the sensitivity of 3H-NA release to alpha-receptor-mediated inhibition. Under these conditions NA dose-dependently inhibited 3H-NA release from synaptosomes obtained from cortex or hypothalamus, but did not affect 3H-NA release from striatal (i.e dopaminergic) synaptosomes. Adrenaline, clonidine and oxymetazoline potently inhibited 3H-NA release from cortex synaptosomes at concentrations in the nanomolar range. Phentolamine by itself did not affect synaptosomal 3H-NA release, but antagonized the inhibitory effects of both noradrenaline and adrenaline. The data obtained further substantiate the hypothesis that the alpha-receptors mediating a local negative feedback control of NA release are localized on the varicosities of central noradrenergic neurons, Furthermore, noradrenergic nerve terminals in the hypothalamus appear to be less senstive to alpha-receptor-mediated presynaptic inhibition than those in the cortex.
mesh_terms: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002118:Calcium / Q000502:physiology; D003891:Desipramine / Q000494:pharmacology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000378:metabolism*; D010646:Phentolamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D011188:Potassium / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011941:Receptors, Adrenergic / Q000502:physiology*; D011942:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha / Q000502:physiology*; D013574:Synaptosomes / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D011941:Receptors, Adrenergic; D011942:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha; D011188:Potassium; D002118:Calcium; D003891:Desipramine; D009638:Norepinephrine; D010646:Phentolamine