Inhibition by the putative potassium channel opener pinacidil of the electrically-evoked release of endogenous dopamine and noradrenaline in the rat vas deferens

Summary

The effect of pinacidil on the release of endogenous noradrenaline and dopamine from the sympathetic innervation of the rat vas deferens was examined. Amine release was evoked by electrical stimulation (1, 2, 5 and 10 Hz) or by depolarization with high potassium (75 mmol/l) in the medium. Dopamine and noradrenaline were measured by means of high pressure liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection.

Pinacidil (1, 5, 10 and 50 μmol/l) produced a concentration-dependent inhibition of the electrically stimulated (2 Hz) overflow of noradrenaline and dopamine. Only pinacidil 50 μmol/l increased the spontaneous loss of dopamine and noradrenaline. The inhibitory effects of pinacidil (5 μmol/l) on amine overflow were also observed at other frequencies of stimulation (1, 5 and 10 Hz). The magnitude of the inhibitory effect on noradrenaline release was approximately the same at all frequencies (63% to 56% reduction); for dopamine, the higher the frequency of stimulation, the greater the inhibitory effect of pinacidil (up to 73% reduction). When the preparations were continuously stimulated for 70 min at 2 Hz, pinacidil (5 μmol/l) reduced the overflow of dopamine and noradrenaline during the first 40 or 30 min of stimulation only. The addition of phentolamine (1 μmol/l) to the perifusion medium slightly reduced the inhibitory effect of pinacidil on amine overflow, but the inhibition by pinacidil remained statistically significant. Tetraethylammonium (10 mmol/l) completely abolished the inhibitory effect of pinacidil (10 μmol/l). Pinacidil (5 μmol/l) did not reduce the potassium-evoked release of the amines.

The results demonstrate that pinacidil impairs transmitter release from the sympathetic innervation of the rat vas deferens, probably as a consequence of the opening of potassium channels.