title: Noradrenergic modulation of 4-aminopyridine-induced acetylcholine release from rat cerebral cortex.
abstract: The noradrenergic influence on cortical acetylcholine (ACh) release was investigated by the cortical cup technique in urethane anaestetized rats treated with 4-aminopyridine (4-AP). The following results were obtained: 1) The increase in ACh release induced by 4-AP (3 mg/kg i.p.) was strongly potentiated by pretreatment with -methyl-p-tyrosine (alpha-MPT) which inhibits catecholamine biosynthesis or by N-(2-chloroethyl)-N-ethyl-bromobenzylamine (DSP4) bringing about a selective degeneration of noradrenergic fibres. Neither pretreatment enhanced the spontaneous ACh output. 2) Pretreatment with p-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA), an inhibitor of serotonin synthesis, did not modify 4-AP effect on ACh output. 3) The alpha blockers, yohimbine (1 mg/kg i.p.) and prazosin (4 mg/kg i.p.), did not enhance the 4-AP effect on ACh release but only delayed its onset. 4) Yohimbine (7 mg/kg i.p.) completely reversed 4-AP effect on ACh release which was significantly decreased. It is concluded therefore that pretreatments with alpha-MPT and DSP4 remove an inhibitory noradrenergic control on cortical ACh release. On the other hand, the alpha blockers might interfere with the ionic mechanisms underlaying the 4-AP effect thus, masking the removal of the noradrenergic control, due to an alpha blockade.
mesh_terms: D015761:4-Aminopyridine; D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000378:metabolism*; D000631:Aminopyridines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001596:Benzylamines / Q000494:pharmacology; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D010134:Fenclonine / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008781:Methyltyrosines / Q000494:pharmacology; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011224:Prazosin / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D015016:Yohimbine / Q000494:pharmacology; D019805:alpha-Methyltyrosine
chemical_list: D000631:Aminopyridines; D001596:Benzylamines; D008781:Methyltyrosines; D015016:Yohimbine; D019805:alpha-Methyltyrosine; D015761:4-Aminopyridine; D000109:Acetylcholine; C012102:DSP 4; D010134:Fenclonine; D009638:Norepinephrine; D011224:Prazosin