Presynaptic agonist effect of phentolamine in the rabbit vas deferens and rat cerebral cortex |
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| Authors: | C. ENNIS N. LATTIMER |
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| Affiliation: | Department of Pharmacology, Wyeth Institute of Medical Research, Huntercombe Lane South, Taplow, Berkshire, SL6 0PH, UK |
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| Abstract: | Clonidine inhibited the electrically-induced twitch response of the rabbit and rat isolated vas deferens preparations and also the K+-evoked release of [3H]noradrenaline from rat cortical slices. This effect of clonidine was antagonized competitively by yohimbine. Phentolamine inhibited the electrically-induced twitch response of the rabbit, but not the rat, vas deferens and in low concentrations (<·1 μm ) also inhibited the K+-evoked release of [3H]NA from rat cortical slices. These inhibitory effects of phentolamine were antagonized by yohimbine in a competitive manner but were not antagonized by indoramin, an α1-adrenoceptor antagonist. In the rabbit vas deferens, the effects of phentolamine were shown not to be due to the stimulation of β-, H1-, H2-, 5-HT- or muscarinic receptors. These results are consistent with the view that phentolamine can act as an agonist at presynaptic α2-adrenoceptors in the rabbit vas deferens and rat cortex but not in the rat vas deferens. |
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