Ove A. Nedergaard

The mechanism of action of nicotine on vascular adrenergic neuroeffector transmission.

The aim of this study was to determine the site and mechanism of action of nicotine on sympathetic neuroeffector transmission in the isolated pulmonary artery of the rabbit. Nicotine and cocaine potentiated the constrictor response elicited by electrical-field stimulation of postganglionic adrenergic neurones. The potentiation was reversible and in the case of nicotine, no tachyphylaxis developed. The nicotine-induced potentiation was characterized by a rapid onset and an initial, transitory peak, while the enhancement caused by cocaine progressed more slowly and was monophasic. Hexamethonium and (+)-tubocurarine prevented the potentiation caused by nicotine. Nicotine did not prevent the adrenergic neurone blocking effect of bretylium on the response to field stimulation. Nicotine increased the stimulation-induced outflow of tritium from pulmonary artery preloaded with 3H-(--)-noradrenaline. Contractions of the artery elicited by tyramine were enhanced by pargyline, unaltered by nicotine and blocked by cocaine. Nicotine did not alter the concentration--response curve of exogenous (--)-noradrenaline while cocaine moved it to the left. The accumulation of 3H-(--)-noradrenaline by rabbit isolated aorta was not altered by nicotine, hexamethonium and (+)-tubocurarine. The accumulation of 3H-nicotine by the aorta was much lower than that seen with 3H-(--)-noradrenaline. The disposition of the 3H-nicotine accumulation into adventitia and media was concentration-independent. These results suggest (1) that nicotine potentiates the neurogenic vasoconstriction response in part by increasing the stimulation-induced release of transmitter from adrenergic neurone terminals; (2) that the site of the nicotinic receptors mediating this action is located on the outer surface of the neurones; and (3) that the potentiation is not due to blockade of noradrenaline re-uptake.

Effect of Atropine on Vascular Adrenergic Neuroeffector Transmission

Atropine, homatropine, scopolamine, procaine, lidocaine and phentolamine inhibited the contractile response of rabbit isolated pulmonary artery elicited by electrical-field stimulation. Methylatropine had no effect. The inhibition induced by atropine (2 x 10(-6)-2 x 10(-4) M) had a rapid onset of action and then remained almost constant. The inhibition was slowly reversible. The potency of atropine as an inhibitor of responses to field stimulation was very much less than the potency of phentolamine. The inhibition was not antagonized by cocaine or (+)-amphetamine. Atropine (3 x 10(-5) and 3 x 10(-4) M) enhanced the electrical-field-stimulation-induced outflow of tritium from the pulmonary artery preloaded with 3H-(-)-noradrenaline. In contrast, atropine in a concentration-dependent manner either had no effect or slightly decreased the tyramine-induced outflow of tritium. Atropine reduced the contractile response of the pulmonary artery evoked by tyramine. Atropine (10(-4) and 3 x 10(-4) M) and phentolamine inhibited the arterial contractions elicited by exogenous (-)-noradrenaline in an apparently competitive manner. The contractions of rabbit isolated aorta elicited by (-)-noradrenaline, serotonin and histamine were inhibited by atropine (10(-5) and 10(-4) M). Atropine was very much less potent in antagonizing noradrenaline, histamine and serotonin than in antagonizing acetylcholine. tthe inhibotory potency of atropine, procaine and lidocaine on the accumulation of 3H-(-)-noradrenaline by rabbit aorta in vitro was much less than that of cocaine. The relationship between the aortic concentration of 3H-atropine and in vitro accumulation was almost linear. The accumulation was slightly higher at 37 degrees C than at 1 degree C. The results suggest that atropine blocks alpha-adrenoceptors, both presynaptically at the adrenergic neurone terminals and postsynaptically at the smooth muscle. In addition, atropine may possibly act in a nonspecific manner at postsynaptic sites.

Distribution of inulin space in the rabbit thoracic aorta

Die ganze Länge und Dicke des extrazellulären Raumes der thorakalen Kaninchenaorta wurde gemessen. Der Raum ist unverändert die ganze Länge des Blutgefässes hindurch und entspricht 0,59 ml/g 0,39 ml/g für die Adventitia und die Media. In jeder dieser Tunicae ist der Raum durch ihre ganze Dicke gleichmässig verteilt.

Abnormal Response of the Pulmonary Artery of the Rabbit after High Frequency Sympathetic Nerve Stimulation

When the sympathetic nerve supply (right recurrent cardiac nerve) to a ring of the pulmonary artery of the rabbit is stimulated repetitively in vitro at frequencies of 10/second or more, the following changes occur which are not seen after stimulation at lower frequencies. (1) The minimum number of pulses in a train needed to cause a just-detectable contractile response is reduced from a mean of 7 to unity; the higher the frequency of repetitive stimulation the fewer the number of repetitive pulses needed to effect this change. (2) The basal tone of the blood vessel exhibits fairly rapid, small, spontaneous fluctuations. (3) The resting or basal tone of the vessel slowly increases for 1/2 to 2 hours. It is speculated that changes 1 and 2 may be the result of an irreversible change in transmitter storage or release mechanisms.