title: Rapid, agonist-induced desensitization of alpha 2-autoreceptors modulating transmitter release.
abstract: 1. The release of previously incorporated [3H]-noradrenaline was investigated in cultures of dissociated chick or rat sympathetic neurones and in cerebrocortical slices from neonatal or adult rats. Noradrenaline, in the presence of 10 mumol l-1 of the uptake inhibitor, cocaine, or the selective alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonist, 5-bromo-N-(4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazol-2-yl)-6-quinoxalinamine (UK 4,304), was applied for different periods of time in order to detect a possible time-dependence of the alpha 2-adrenoceptor-mediated inhibition of electrically evoked tritium outflow. 2. In chick sympathetic neurones, stimulation-evoked overflow was reduced to 30%, 42%, or 56% of control when noradrenaline (1 mumol l-1) was present for 2, 8, or 16 min, respectively. Likewise, UK 14,304 (1 mumol l-1) present for these periods of time reduced 3H overflow to 35%, 51%, and 53% of control, respectively. Addition of 1 nmol l-1 to 10 mumol l-1 UK 14,304 for either 2 or 16 min did not produce significantly different IC50 values, but the inhibitory effects were smaller with 16 min as compared to 2 min exposure at concentrations > or = 10 nmol l-1. 3. In rat sympathetic neurones, noradrenaline (100 nmol l-1) reduced stimulation-evoked overflow to 33%, 56%, or 57% of control, when present for 2, 8, or 16 min, respectively. Addition of UK 14,304 (1 mumol l-1) for these periods of time caused inhibition to 11%, 41%, and 46% of control. Applying UK14,304 for either 2 or 16 min did not result in significantly different IC5o values, but the inhibition induced by 16 min as compared to 2 min exposure was smaller at concentrations > 10 nmol 1-1.4. In cerebrocortical slices from either neonatal or adult rats, exposure to 0.1 to 1.0 micromol 1-1 UK14,304 for 16 min never caused a smaller inhibition than a corresponding 3 min exposure, although various experimental conditions were investigated.5 The results demonstrate that alpha 2-adrenoceptors which regulate noradrenaline release from sympathetic neurones undergo agonist-induced desensitization within minutes. Such rapid desensitization of alpha 2-autoreceptors was not detected in brain slice preparations.
authors.affiliation: Institutes of Neuropharmacology, University of Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Boehm
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Huck
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schwarz
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Agneter
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Drobny
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Singer
mesh_terms: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D017660:Autoreceptors / Q000187:drug effects*; D000068438:Brimonidine Tartrate; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002642:Chick Embryo; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000378:metabolism*; D011810:Quinoxalines / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D018341:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D017660:Autoreceptors; D011810:Quinoxalines; D018341:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2; D000068438:Brimonidine Tartrate; D009638:Norepinephrine