Adrenaline inhibits muscarinic transmission in bullfrog sympathetic ganglia.

The effect of adrenaline (Ad) on muscarinic transmission was examined in B neurones of bullfrog sympathetic ganglia by using intracellular and voltage-clamp recording methods. Bath-application of Ad (5-500 microM) caused a depression of the slow excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) elicited by repetitive stimulations of preganglionic nerve fibres in the presence of curare (30 microM). Ad also depressed the 'muscarinic' ACh potential induced by ionophoretic application of ACh directly to curarized sympathetic neurones in a concentration-dependent manner. Isoprenaline mimicked the effect of Ad in producing the inhibition of the 'muscarinic' ACh potential. Propranolol antagonized the inhibitory action of Ad. Dibutyryl adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate had no significant effect on the 'muscarinic' ACh potential. Under voltage-clamp conditions, Ad caused an inward current associated with inhibition of the M-current (Brown and Adams 1980). Ad depressed the amplitude of slow postsynaptic currents produced by applications of ACh and muscarinic. At a concentration of 100 microM, Ad produced a 68 +/- 8% (n = 12) depression of the amplitude of the muscarinic ACh current. The inhibition of muscarinic transmission induced by Ad is due to a direct suppression of the muscarinic current at the postsynaptic membrane in bullfrog sympathetic ganglia.