title: Comparative studies of (--)-, (+/-)-propranolol, atenolol, guanethidine, bretylium and tetracaine on adrenergic transmission.
abstract: 1 Effects of (--)-, (+/-)-, and (+)-propranolol, atenolol, guanethidine, bretylium and tetracaine were studied on relaxation responses of rabbit ileum and contractile responses of rabbit pulmonary artery and guinea-pig vas deferens to electrical nerve stimulation (2 to 50 Hz). 2 In the ileum, inhibition by tetracaine 3.3 x 10(-6) M occurred at high frequencies of stimulation, while bretylium 1.2 x 10(-4) M and guanethidine 2 x 10(-5) M inhibited responses at all frequencies, the latter producing greater inhibition at low frequencies. 3 (+/-)-Propranolol 10(-5) M produced a tetracaine-type inhibition after 1 h and a bretylium-pattern after 2 h in the ilea and pulmonary arteries and a transition from bretylium- to guanethidine-pattern in the vas deferens, while atenolol 2 x 10(-5) to 10(-4) M produced guanethidine-type inhibition in all preparations. 4 (--)-, (+/-)-, and (+)-Propranolol 3 x 10(-6) to 3.3 x 10(-5) M were equipotent in the vas deferens and ileum. However, inhibition by (--)-propranolol 3.3 x 10(-5) M persisted in the ileum, while that by the (+)-isomer was partially restored by washing. 5 (--)- or (+)-Propranolol 3.3 x 10(-5) M or atenolol 2 x 10(-5) M did not inhibit relaxation of the ileum after the bath temperature was maintained at 4 degrees C for 2 h during drug application. 6 In conclusion, propranolol and atenolol both have gradually developing guanethidine-like adrenergic neurone blocking actions.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001262:Atenolol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001949:Bretylium Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001950:Bretylium Tosylate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006145:Guanethidine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D007082:Ileum / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D011412:Propanolamines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011433:Propranolol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000187:drug effects; D011817:Rabbits; D013237:Stereoisomerism; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects*; D013748:Tetracaine / Q000494:pharmacology; D014649:Vas Deferens / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D001949:Bretylium Compounds; D011412:Propanolamines; D013748:Tetracaine; D001262:Atenolol; D001950:Bretylium Tosylate; D011433:Propranolol; D006145:Guanethidine