Cyclic AMP and alpha-receptor-mediated modulation of noradrenaling release from rat brain slices.

Oxymetazoline (an alpha-receptor agonist) reduced and phentolamine (an alpha-receptor antagonist) increased depolarization-induced release (potassium or electrical field stimulation) of 3H-noradrenaline (NA) from superfused neocortical slices in a dose-dependent way. Inhibition of phosphodiesterase also reduced NA release; this effect could be reversed by phentolamine. Phosphodiesterase inhibition potentiated the effect of oxymetazoline. It is suggested that stimulation of presynaptic alpha-receptors may reduce NA release up to about 60% and that increased cyclic AMP formation might be involved in this modulation.