Reserpine-resistant responses to nerve stimulation in the cat nictitating membrane involve the release of newly synthesized noradrenaline.

Preganglionic sympathetic nerve stimulation in cats pretreated with reserpine resulted in significant frequency-dependent contractions of the nictitating membrane, despite a severe depletion of tissue noradrenaline content. These residual responses to sympathetic nerve stimulation were potentiated by cocaine or pargyline, and were antagonised by the tyrosine hydroxylase inhibitor alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine. In contrast to the residual responses to sympathetic stimulation in the nictitating membrane, the tachycardia evoked by postganglionic cardiac nerve stimulation was totally abolished by pretreatment with reserpine, even after the administration of cocaine. The alpha-adrenoceptor antagonists phentolamine or prazosin reduced, but did not abolish the reserpine-resistant responses of the nictitating membrane, suggesting the nerve-mediated release of a co-transmitter. In addition to this co-transmitter, a neuronal pool of neurotransmitter which is reserpine-resistant and involves newly synthesised noradrenaline, contributes to the residual responses of the nictitating membrane, following depletion of the neurotransmitter stores by the administration of reserpine. administration of reserpine.