title: Mechanism of nicotine-induced release of norepinephrine from adrenergic nerve endings: is generation and propagation of impulses necessary?
abstract: The mechanism of release of 3H-norepinephrine (3H-NE) from adrenergic nerve endings by nicotine was investigated. Tetrodotoxin (5 X 10(-7) g/ml) abolished the contractile response of adrenergically innervated tissues, namely, rat isolated vas deferens, cat splenic strips, guinea-pig atria to transmural stimulation but not to nicotinic agents, and it did not affect the release of 3H-NE by nicotine from rat isolated vas deferens. Incubation of tissues in low Na+ (23 mM) and high K+ (50 mM) medium, which is known to inhibit propagation of nerve impulses, did not affect the nicotine-induced outflow of 3H-NE. These observations support the contention that the generation of action potential in the postganglionic sympathetic nerve fibres is not the cause of release of norepinephrine by nicotinic agents.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006321:Heart / Q000294:innervation; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D009411:Nerve Endings / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D009538:Nicotine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D013154:Spleen / Q000294:innervation; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects*; D013779:Tetrodotoxin / Q000494:pharmacology; D014649:Vas Deferens / Q000294:innervation
chemical_list: D013779:Tetrodotoxin; D009538:Nicotine; D009638:Norepinephrine