Does presynaptic regulation of sympathetic transmission occur within a limited range of neuronal activity?
Recent reports indicate that the presynaptic negative feedback mechanism involved in regulating sympathetic neurotransmission is only functional within a narrow range of neuronal activity. The specific aim of this report is to examine the release of sympathetic transmitter at varying frequencies of stimulation, and the effects of alpha-adrenoceptor antagonists on the overflow. The experiments were carried out in the 3H-noradrenalin-labeled heart of the guinea pig. The overflow of tritium (per pulse) increased from a stimulation frequency of 0.125 to 10 Hz and declined at 30 Hz. Phentolamine or yohimbine produced facilitation of the overflow from 0.125 to 10 Hz; the effect was more pronounced at lower frequencies of stimulation. We conclude that the presynaptic alpha-adrenoceptor-mediated negative feedback mechanism operates over a wide range of cardiac sympathetic nerve activity.
D000818:Animals; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D010646:Phentolamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology*; D013569:Synapses / Q000187:drug effects*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects; D015016:Yohimbine / Q000494:pharmacology
D015016:Yohimbine; D009638:Norepinephrine; D010646:Phentolamine