Effect of depolarizing agents on the adenosine-3',5'-monophosphate content of the bovine superior cervical ganglion.

The cAMP content of the bovine superior cervical ganglion increases rapidly when the tissue is incubated in media containing high concentrations of potassium and theophylline. This effect of high K+ is mimicked by Rb+, Cs+ and NH4+. The depolarizing substances veratridine and ouabain also cause an increase in the concentration of ganglionic cAMP; the effect of ouabain develops more slowly than that of veratridine. Tetracaine, in high concentrations, reduces the response to potassium, whereas it reduces the response to veratridine at much lower concentrations. Tetrodotoxin, at a concentration that barely affects the response to potassium, prevents the response to veratridine.