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Tachyphylaxis to the stimulant actions of the indirectly acting sympathomimetic amines and acetylcholine on the adrenal medulla

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Summary

1. Experiments were carried out to study the effects of multiple exposures to sympathomimetic amines and acetylcholine on the secretory response of the perfused adrenal gland of the cat.

2. Following four 2 min exposures to a given dose of tyramine, phenylethylamine, or d-amphetamine, the response had decreased by 65–75%. The response to acetylcholine had diminished by 55%.

3. The tachyphylaxis to sympathomimetic amines could not be reversed by catecholamine infusion. Excess calcium was unable to reverse the tachyphylaxis to phenylethylamine and tyramine but partially restored the response to amphetamine.

4. Following tachyphylaxis to tyramine, the response to phenylethylamine and amphetamine was markedly depressed, and multiple exposures to phenylethylamine diminished the initial response to amphetamine and acetylcholine.

5. It is concluded that the sympathomimetic amines and acetylcholine release medullary catecholamines from similar sites within the chromaffin cell. The data offers no apparent evidence for the existence of heterogeneous pools or compartments of medullary catecholamine stores which have been postulated to be present in peripheral adrenergic nerve terminals.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacology, Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York, USA

    Ronald P. Rubin & Siret D. Jaanus

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  1. Ronald P. Rubin
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  2. Siret D. Jaanus
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This work was supported by research grant AM 09237 from National Institute of Arthritis and Metabolic Diseases, United State Public Health Service.

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Rubin, R.P., Jaanus, S.D. Tachyphylaxis to the stimulant actions of the indirectly acting sympathomimetic amines and acetylcholine on the adrenal medulla. Naunyn-Schmiedebergs Arch. Pharmak. u. Exp. Path. 256, 464–475 (1967). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00536804

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00536804

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