title: Activation of beta-adrenergic receptors stimulates release of an inhibitory transmitter from astrocytes.
abstract: Activation of beta-adrenergic receptors on astrocytes in primary cell culture results in the release of taurine, an inhibitory transmitter. Taurine release occurs via a cyclic AMP-mediated intracellular pathway, because (a) taurine release and intracellular cyclic AMP accumulation have similar pharmacologies and time courses of activation and (b) N6,O2'-dibutyryl cyclic AMP stimulates release with a time course similar to that observed with the beta-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol. These results describe a previously unrecognized physiological function of astrocytes in the CNS-receptor-mediated release of the neuroactive amino acid taurine. This observation indicates that astrocytes may function as local regulators of neuronal activity.
mesh_terms: D000526:Alprenolol / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D003994:Bucladesine / Q000494:pharmacology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D007545:Isoproterenol / Q000494:pharmacology; D007700:Kinetics; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D011433:Propranolol / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013654:Taurine / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta; D013654:Taurine; D003994:Bucladesine; D000526:Alprenolol; D011433:Propranolol; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D007545:Isoproterenol; D009638:Norepinephrine; D004837:Epinephrine