Differential effects of hypothermia on neuronal efflux,release and uptake of noradrenaline

Summary Isolated rabbit hearts were perfused at 34° (control), 24° or 12°C. The neuronal efflux of noradrenaline after perfusion with the amine for 1 h was depressed at 24° C (Q₁₀ about 5) in the presence or absence of desipramine; at 12°C the efflux was below the limit of estimation. Moderate reduction of the temperature (24° C) decreased the removal of perfused noradrenaline to about 60% of the control value and caused a 1.7-fold increase of the output of noradrenaline evoked by sympathetic nerve stimulation. It is concluded that the extremely temperature-dependent efflux of noradrenaline across the axonal membrane is not part of the release of noradrenaline evoked by nerve stimulation.