Mechanisms of the release of 3H-noradrenaline by dimethylphenylpiperazinium (DMPP) in the rat vas deferens.

In the rat vas deferens, DMPP is a substrate of uptake1 (Km = 11.5 mumol/l). After block of vesicular uptake, monoamine oxidase and catechol-O-methyl transferase, after loading of the tissue with 3H-noradrenaline, and in calcium-free solution (i.e., when axoplasmic 3H-noradrenaline levels were high and when depolarization-induced exocytotic release was impossible), DMPP induced a pronounced outward transport of 3H-noradrenaline. On the other hand, when, in similar experiments, vesicular uptake and monoamine oxidase were intact (i.e., when axoplasmic 3H-noradrenaline levels were low), DMPP induced very little outward transport of 3H-noradrenaline. This discrepancy indicates that DMPP has little ability to mobilize vesicularly stored 3H-amine. When the medium contained calcium (catechol-O-methyl transferase inhibited, all other mechanisms intact), 100 (but not 10) mumol/l DMPP induced a hexamethonium-sensitive release of 3H-noradrenaline of short duration. Hence, in the presence of extracellular calcium, 100 mumol/l DMPP elicits exocytotic release via activation of hexamethonium-sensitive nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. DMPP inhibits the monoamine oxidase of rat heart homogenate with an IC50 of about 100 mumol/l.