Prejunctional adrenergic inhibition by aggregating platelets in canine blood vessels.

Experiments were performed to determine the effect of aggregating platelets on adrenergic neurotransmission. Rings of canine saphenous veins and left circumflex coronary arteries were incubated with [3H]norepinephrine and suspended for superfusion. Aggregating platelets and exogenous 5-hydroxytryptamine decreased the overflow of [3H]norepinephrine evoked by electrical stimulation of the adrenergic nerve endings. The reduction of transmitter overflow caused by 5-hydroxytryptamine was prevented by the serotonergic antagonist methiothepin in a concentration that did not significantly affect the release of 5-hydroxytryptamine or thromboxane B2 from the aggregating platelets. Methiothepin decreased but did not abolish the inhibitory effect of aggregating platelets on neurotransmitter overflow. These experiments demonstrate that 5-hydroxytryptamine and other substances released from aggregating platelets can exert prejunctional inhibition of adrenergic neurotransmission in isolated blood vessels.