Actions of PGE2 and indomethacin on adrenergic neuroeffector transmission in the rabbit coeliac artery.

In the present study we have investigated the pre- and post-synaptic actions of PGE2 and indomethacin on the adrenergic transmission in isolated coeliac arteries of rabbits. The artery segment was preloaded with (3H)NA and suspended in an organ bath (37 degrees C, 5% CO2 - 95% O2, isometric recording). The preparation was superfused with Krebs-solution containing the uptake blockers cocaine and corticosterone. To release neurotransmitter, the artery was stimulated by electrical square-wave pulses (0.5 ms, 5 Hz, 60 s) using platinum wire electrodes. The perfusate was collected in 3 or 6 min samples. The outflow of labelled neurotransmitter was expressed in pmol/3 min. Inhibition of endogenous prostaglandin-biosynthesis by indomethacin (3/mumol/l) potentiated the contractile responses to nerve stimulation (57 +/- 15%, n = 4), but did not influence the release of NA (the release ratio was 1.02 +/- 0.03, n = 4). The endogenous prostaglandins may modulate vascular neuroeffector transmission postjunctionally, because cyclooxygenase inhibition did not cause any change in transmitter release. The effects of exogenous PGE2 on adrenergic transmission and contraction were also studied. In this case, indomethacin was present to minimize the potential complicating actions of endogenous prostanoids. At low concentrations (1, 3 and 10 nmol/l) PGE2 dose-dependently inhibited vasoconstrictor responses to nerve stimulation (IC50 = 4.7 +/- 1.5 nmol/l, n = 4), but was ineffective in influencing transmitter release (the stimulation evoked release ratios were 0.95 +/- 0.05, 1.00 +/- 0.00 and 0.93 +/- 0.11, n = 4, respectively).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)