Effects of dopamine on adrenergic neuromuscular transmission in the guinea-pig vas deferens. 1980

C Bell

1 In the isolated vas deferens of the guinea-pig, contractile responses to adrenergic nerve stimulation at 2 Hz were depressed by exogenous dopamine (5 microM) and this effect was abolished in the presence of phentolamine (0.3 microM), suggesting that it was due to an agonist action of dopamine on alpha-adrenotors. 2 The depression by dopamine (5 microM) of contractile responses to nerve stimulation was correlated with reduction in amplitude of single excitatory junction potentials (e.j.ps) evoked by nerve stimulation, but not with depression of spontaneous junction potentials. 3 By contrast, during repetitive nerve stimulation at 1 Hz the depressant effect of dopamine on e.j.p. amplitude became less pronounced, due to the amount of facilitation being greater than that occurring under control conditions in the same cell. 4 The alpha-adrenoceptor antagonist, phentolamine (10 microM), also increased the amount of facilitation during repetitive nerve stimulation. 5 In the presence of phentolamine (10 microM), the depressant effect of dopamine (5 microM) on single e.j.ps was abolished but its enhancing effect on facilitation was not reduced. 6 It is suggested that the enhancement of facilitation during repetitive stimulation by both dopamine and phentolamine is independent of their actions on presynaptic alpha-adrenoceptors.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D008564 Membrane Potentials The voltage differences across a membrane. For cellular membranes they are computed by subtracting the voltage measured outside the membrane from the voltage measured inside the membrane. They result from differences of inside versus outside concentration of potassium, sodium, chloride, and other ions across cells' or ORGANELLES membranes. For excitable cells, the resting membrane potentials range between -30 and -100 millivolts. Physical, chemical, or electrical stimuli can make a membrane potential more negative (hyperpolarization), or less negative (depolarization). Resting Potentials,Transmembrane Potentials,Delta Psi,Resting Membrane Potential,Transmembrane Electrical Potential Difference,Transmembrane Potential Difference,Difference, Transmembrane Potential,Differences, Transmembrane Potential,Membrane Potential,Membrane Potential, Resting,Membrane Potentials, Resting,Potential Difference, Transmembrane,Potential Differences, Transmembrane,Potential, Membrane,Potential, Resting,Potential, Transmembrane,Potentials, Membrane,Potentials, Resting,Potentials, Transmembrane,Resting Membrane Potentials,Resting Potential,Transmembrane Potential,Transmembrane Potential Differences
D009435 Synaptic Transmission The communication from a NEURON to a target (neuron, muscle, or secretory cell) across a SYNAPSE. In chemical synaptic transmission, the presynaptic neuron releases a NEUROTRANSMITTER that diffuses across the synaptic cleft and binds to specific synaptic receptors, activating them. The activated receptors modulate specific ion channels and/or second-messenger systems in the postsynaptic cell. In electrical synaptic transmission, electrical signals are communicated as an ionic current flow across ELECTRICAL SYNAPSES. Neural Transmission,Neurotransmission,Transmission, Neural,Transmission, Synaptic
D009469 Neuromuscular Junction The synapse between a neuron and a muscle. Myoneural Junction,Nerve-Muscle Preparation,Junction, Myoneural,Junction, Neuromuscular,Junctions, Myoneural,Junctions, Neuromuscular,Myoneural Junctions,Nerve Muscle Preparation,Nerve-Muscle Preparations,Neuromuscular Junctions,Preparation, Nerve-Muscle,Preparations, Nerve-Muscle
D010646 Phentolamine A nonselective alpha-adrenergic antagonist. It is used in the treatment of hypertension and hypertensive emergencies, pheochromocytoma, vasospasm of RAYNAUD DISEASE and frostbite, clonidine withdrawal syndrome, impotence, and peripheral vascular disease. Fentolamin,Phentolamine Mesilate,Phentolamine Mesylate,Phentolamine Methanesulfonate,Phentolamine Mono-hydrochloride,Regitine,Regityn,Rogitine,Z-Max,Mesilate, Phentolamine,Mesylate, Phentolamine,Methanesulfonate, Phentolamine,Mono-hydrochloride, Phentolamine,Phentolamine Mono hydrochloride
D011941 Receptors, Adrenergic Cell-surface proteins that bind epinephrine and/or norepinephrine with high affinity and trigger intracellular changes. The two major classes of adrenergic receptors, alpha and beta, were originally discriminated based on their cellular actions but now are distinguished by their relative affinity for characteristic synthetic ligands. Adrenergic receptors may also be classified according to the subtypes of G-proteins with which they bind; this scheme does not respect the alpha-beta distinction. Adrenergic Receptors,Adrenoceptor,Adrenoceptors,Norepinephrine Receptor,Receptors, Epinephrine,Receptors, Norepinephrine,Adrenergic Receptor,Epinephrine Receptors,Norepinephrine Receptors,Receptor, Adrenergic,Receptor, Norepinephrine
D011942 Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha One of the two major pharmacological subdivisions of adrenergic receptors that were originally defined by the relative potencies of various adrenergic compounds. The alpha receptors were initially described as excitatory receptors that post-junctionally stimulate SMOOTH MUSCLE contraction. However, further analysis has revealed a more complex picture involving several alpha receptor subtypes and their involvement in feedback regulation. Adrenergic alpha-Receptor,Adrenergic alpha-Receptors,Receptors, alpha-Adrenergic,alpha-Adrenergic Receptor,alpha-Adrenergic Receptors,Receptor, Adrenergic, alpha,Adrenergic alpha Receptor,Adrenergic alpha Receptors,Receptor, alpha-Adrenergic,Receptors, alpha Adrenergic,alpha Adrenergic Receptor,alpha Adrenergic Receptors,alpha-Receptor, Adrenergic,alpha-Receptors, Adrenergic
D004298 Dopamine One of the catecholamine NEUROTRANSMITTERS in the brain. It is derived from TYROSINE and is the precursor to NOREPINEPHRINE and EPINEPHRINE. Dopamine is a major transmitter in the extrapyramidal system of the brain, and important in regulating movement. A family of receptors (RECEPTORS, DOPAMINE) mediate its action. Hydroxytyramine,3,4-Dihydroxyphenethylamine,4-(2-Aminoethyl)-1,2-benzenediol,Dopamine Hydrochloride,Intropin,3,4 Dihydroxyphenethylamine,Hydrochloride, Dopamine
D004558 Electric Stimulation Use of electric potential or currents to elicit biological responses. Stimulation, Electric,Electrical Stimulation,Electric Stimulations,Electrical Stimulations,Stimulation, Electrical,Stimulations, Electric,Stimulations, Electrical
D006168 Guinea Pigs A common name used for the genus Cavia. The most common species is Cavia porcellus which is the domesticated guinea pig used for pets and biomedical research. Cavia,Cavia porcellus,Guinea Pig,Pig, Guinea,Pigs, Guinea

Related Publications

C Bell
January 1990, Toxicon : official journal of the International Society on Toxinology,
C Bell
January 1985, Toxicon : official journal of the International Society on Toxinology,
C Bell
October 1982, Quarterly journal of experimental physiology (Cambridge, England),
Copied contents to your clipboard!