Summary
Experiments on the isolated perfused adrenal gland of the ox, a simple and reliable preparation for the study of catecholamine release from intact chromaffin tissue, were conducted in order to investigate the action of several drugs. Injection of neostigmine, carbachol, pilocarpine, DMPP, m-bromophenyloxycholine, histamine, guanethidine, tyramine and reserpine provoked the release of significant amounts of catecholamines; some drugs exerted a highly selective releasing action, liberating almost exclusively adrenaline (neostigmine, tyramine, reserpine) or noradrenaline (histamine). Addition of nialamide, hexamethonium, guanethidine, cocaine, atropine or P-286 to the perfusing medium had variable effects on spontaneous release and exerted a selective blocking action on the releasing effects of some of the drugs investigated, while not affecting the responses to other releasing agents. It is concluded that the nature of the releasing agent and not the composition of the adrenal stores plays a decisive role in determining the relative proportion of the amounts of adrenaline and noradrenaline released.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bickel, M. H., A. Carpi, and D. Bovet: Action of reserpine and monoamine oxidase inhibitors on the urinary excretion of catecholamines in the rat. Helv. physiol. pharmacol. Acta 19, 279 (1961).
Butterworth, K. R., and M. Mann: The adrenaline and noradrenaline content of the adrenal gland of the cat following depletion by acetylcholine. Brit. J. Pharmacol. 12, 415 (1957).
Draskóczy, P. R., W. R. Burack, and N. Weiner: Catecholamine release from adrenal slices and rate of respiration. J. Pharmacol. exp. Ther. 58, 141 (1963).
Eade, N. R.: The release of catecholamines from isolated chromaffin granules. Brit. J. Pharmacol. 12, 61 (1957).
Euler, U. S. von, and F. Lishajko: (1) Noradrenaline release from isolated nerve granules. Acta physiol. scand. 51, 193 (1961).
— (2) Effect of reserpine on the release of catecholamines from isolated nerve and chromaffin cell granules. Acta physiol. scand. 52, 137 (1961).
Gaddum, J. H.: Bioassay procedures. In Symposium on catecholamines. Pharmacol. Rev. 11, 241 (1959).
—, and F. Lembeck: The assay of substances from the adrenal medulla. Brit. J. Pharmacol. 4, 401 (1949).
Gardier, R. W., B. E. Abreu, A. B. Richards, and H. C. Herrlich: Specific blockade of adrenal medulla. J. Pharmacol. exp. Ther. 130, 340 (1960).
—, and A. J. Roush: Spontaneous and acetylcholine induced post-ganglionic sympathetic activity following P-286. Fed. Proc. 20, 214 (1963).
Garrett, J., and C. Sousa: Effects of guanethidine on smooth muscles. Arzneimittel-Forsch. 13, 125 (1963).
Gatgounis, J., and J. Aycock: Effects of monoamine oxidase inhibitors on adrenal medullary responses to nicotine and tetramethylammonium. J. Pharmacol. exp. Ther. 141, 50 (1963).
Haag, H. W., A. Philippu u. H. J. Schümann: Freisetzung von Brenzcatechinaminen aus der isoliert durchströmten Nebenniere durch Tyramin und β-Phenyläthylamin. Experientia (Basel) 17, 187 (1961).
Hagen, P.: The storage and release of catecholamines. Pharmacol. Rev. 11, 361 (1959).
Hechter, O., R. P. Jacobsen, V. Schenker, H. Levy, R. W. Jeanloz, C. W. Marshall, and G. Pincus: Chemical transformation of steroids by adrenal perfusion: perfusion methods. Endocrinology 52, 679 (1953).
Hey, P.: On relations between structure and nicotine-like stimulant activity in choline esters and ethers. Brit. J. Pharmacol. 7, 117 (1952).
Holtz, P.: Die Nebennierenmarkhormone. In: Fermente, Hormone, Vitamine, ed. by R. Ammon and W. Dirscherl, Vol. II, p. 396. Stuttgart: G. Thieme 1960.
Houssay, B. A., G. F. Wassermann et J. H. Tramezzani: Formation et sécrétion différentielle d'adrénaline et de noradrénaline surrénale. Arch. int. Pharmacodyn. 140, 84 (1962).
Langemann, H.: Enzymes and their substrates in the adrenal gland of the ox. Brit. J. Pharmacol. 6, 318 (1951).
Malafaya-Baptista, A., J. Garrett, W. Osswald u. S. Guimarães: Pharmakologische Wirkungen von N,N-Di-isopropyl-N′ -isoamyl-N′-diäthylaminoäthyl-harnstoff, einem Blocker des Nebennierenmarks. Naunyn-Schmiedebergs Arch. exp. Path. Pharmak. 244, 550 (1963).
Mirkin, B. L.: The effect of synaptic blocking agents on reserpine-induced alterations in adrenal and urinary catecholamine levels. J. Pharmacol. exp. Ther. 133, 34 (1961).
Muscholl, E.: Die Konzentration von Noradrenalin und Adrenalin in den einzelnen Abschnitten des Herzens. Naunyn-Schmiedebergs Arch. exp. Path. Pharmak. 237, 350 (1959).
Philippu, A., u. H.-J. Schümann: Der Einfluß von Guanethidin und Bretylium auf die Freisetzung von Brenzcatechinaminen. Naunyn-Schmiedebergs Arch. exp. Path. Pharmak. 243, 26 (1962).
Schaepdryver, A. F. de: Physio-pharmacological effects on suprarenal secretion of adrenaline and noradrenaline in dogs. Arch. int. Pharmacodyn. 121, 222 (1959).
—: Pharmacological depletion of adrenaline and noradrenaline in various organs of mice. Arch. int. Pharmacodyn. 121, 177 (1959).
Schümann, H.-J., u. A. Philippu: Untersuchungen zum Mechanismus der Freisetzung von Brenzcatechinaminen durch Tyramin. Naunyn-Schmiedebergs Arch. exp. Path. Pharmak. 241, 273 (1961).
—, u. E. Weigmann: Über den Angriffspunkt der indirekten Wirkung sympathicomimetischer Amine. Naunyn-Schmiedebergs Arch. exp. Path. Pharmak. 240, 275 (1960).
Serrāo, D., and J. Gil da Costa: A histochemical study on the influence of drugs on bovine adrenal medulla catecholamines. Naunyn-Schmiedebergs Arch. exp. Path. Pharmak. 250, 337 (1965).
Stjärne, L., and S. Shapiro: Effects of reserpine on secretion from the denervated adrenal medulla. Nature (Lond.) 184, 2023 (1959).
Strömblad, B. C. R.: Effect of denervation and of cocaine on the action of sympathomimetic amines. Brit. J. Pharmacol. 15, 328 (1960).
Vogt, M.: The secretion of the denervated adrenal medulla of the cat. Brit. J. Pharmacol. 7, 325 (1952).
Weil-Malherbe, H., and H. S. Posner: The effect of drugs on the release of epinephrine from adrenomedullary particles in vitro. J. Pharmacol. exp. Ther. 140, 93 (1963).
Weiner, N., P. R. Draskóczy, and W. R. Burack: The ability of tyramine to liberate catecholamines in vivo. J. Pharmacol. exp. Ther. 137, 47 (1962).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
With 2 Figures in the Text
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Garrett, J., Osswald, W., Rodrigues-Pereira, E. et al. Catecholamine release from the isolated perfused adrenal gland. Naunyn - Schmiedebergs Arch 250, 325–336 (1965). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00258526
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00258526