The cholinergic blocking action of adrenergic blocking agents in the pharmacological analysis of autonomic innervation

Does the iontophoretic application of bretylium tosylate modulate sweating during exercise in the heat in habitually trained and untrained men?

NEW FINDINGS

What is the central question of this study? Does the administration of the adrenergic presynaptic release inhibitor bretylium tosylate modulate sweating during exercise in the heat, and does this response differ between habitually trained and untrained men? What is the main finding and its importance? Iontophoretic administration of bretylium tosylate attenuates sweating during exercise in the heat in habitually trained and untrained men. However, a greater reduction occurred in trained men. The findings demonstrate a role for cutaneous adrenergic nerves in the regulation of eccrine sweating during exercise in the heat and highlight a need to advance our understanding of neural control of human eccrine sweat gland activity.

ABSTRACT

We recently reported an influence of cutaneous adrenergic nerves on eccrine sweat production in habitually trained men performing an incremental exercise bout in non-heat stress conditions. Based on an assumption that increasing heat stress induces cholinergic modulation of sweating, we evaluated the hypothesis that the contribution of cutaneous adrenergic nerves on sweating would be attenuated during exercise in the heat. Twenty young habitually trained and untrained men (n = 10/group) underwent three successive bouts of 15 min of light-, moderate- and vigorous-intensity cycling (equivalent to 30, 50, and 70% of peak oxygen uptake ( V ̇ O 2 peak ) respectively), each separated by a 15 min recovery while wearing a perfusion suit perfused with warm water (43°C). Sweat rate (ventilated capsule) was measured continuously at two bilateral forearm skin sites treated with 10 mm bretylium tosylate (an inhibitor of neurotransmitter release from adrenergic nerve terminals) and saline (control) via transdermal iontophoresis. A greater sweat rate was measured during vigorous exercise only in trained as compared to untrained men (P = 0.014). In both groups, sweating was reduced at the bretylium tosylate versus control sites, albeit the magnitude of reduction was greater in the trained men (P ≤ 0.024). These results suggest that cutaneous adrenergic nerves modulate sweating during exercise performed under a whole-body heat stress, albeit a more robust response occurs in trained men. While it is accepted that a cholinergic mechanism plays a primary role in the regulation of sweating during an exercise-heat stress, our findings highlight the need for additional studies aimed at understanding the neural control of human eccrine sweating.

INNERVATION OF THE LARGE INTESTINE OF THE TOAD (BUFO MARINUS)

The morphology, physiology and pharmacology of the innervation of the toad (Bufo marinus) large intestine have been studied. The large intestine can be divided into the regions colon, rectum and cloaca, on morphological grounds, but acts as a unit in response to nerve stimulation. Of the right and left nerves, each appears to supply the entire large intestine. Autonomic innervation of the large intestine of Bufo marinus is as follows: (1) The 9th and 10th spinal nerves (pelvic) contain predominantly excitatory preganglionic cholinergic fibres, but some inhibitory adrenergic fibres are also present in most preparations. (2) The splanchnic nerves contain inhibitory postganglionic adrenergic fibres from the 3rd to 5th sympathetic ganglia, and a small number of excitatory cholinergic fibres. The pathway of adrenergic inhibitory fibres to the large intestine alongside the posterior mesenteric artery as seen in mammals is rarely present in the toad. Several nonspecific actions of autonomic drugs on the large intestine are discussed. The functional organization of the autonomic innervation of the toad large intestine is similar to that in mammals, that is the large intestine is controlled by antagonistic cholinergic and adrenergic nerves. However, the separation of these two types of nerve fibres into anatomically distinct nerves does not appear to be as complete as in mammals. It is suggested that inhibitory autonomic control of the alimentary canal in vertebrates first appears in the hind-gut region.

AN ELECTROPHYSIOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION OF THE ACTIONS OF SOME AUTONOMIC BLOCKING DRUGS ON TRANSMISSION IN THE GUINEA-PIG VAS DEFERENS

Membrane potentials have been recorded from the guinea-pig isolated vas deferens with intracellular and sucrose-gap electrodes during stimulation of the hypogastric nerve and of intramural nerve fibres. Atropine had no detectable effect on the excitatory junction potentials in response to nerve stimulation or on the spontaneous discharge of small potentials. High concentrations of adrenolytic drugs, acting on alpha-receptors were needed to block the response to nerve stimulation and the spontaneous discharge. During the onset and recovery from yohimbine blockade, junction potentials in response to repetitive stimulation were not sustained. Bretylium initially reduced both the junction potentials and the spontaneous discharge. However, after 30 min exposure, the spontaneous discharge increased in frequency although the response to nerve stimulation was abolished. Block of the junction potentials by procaine was rapid in onset compared with that by bretylium and guanethidine, but the spontaneous discharge was not abolished. These results are discussed in relation to the mechanism of transmission from sympathetic nerve to smooth muscle.

Serotonin: its role and receptors in enteric neurotransmission

Enteric neural 5-HT receptors were analyzed and related to possible physiological actions of 5-HT. Receptors were identified electrophysiologically with intracellular microelectrodes and by studies of the binding of radioligands. Radioligand binding was assessed by rapid filtration and by radioautography. Three subtypes of 5-HT receptor, 5-HT1P, 5-HT3, and 5-HT1A, were identified. 5-HT1P receptors were found to mediate slow depolarizations of myenteric neurons that were associated with a decrease in membrane conductance. These responses were inhibited by 5-HTP-DP and by BRL 24924 and mimicked by 5- and 6-hydroxyindalpine. 5-HT1P receptors were labeled with high affinity by 3H-5-HT and were located on both submucosal and myenteric neurons and on processes of intrinsic neurons in the lamina propria. Serotonergic EPSPs were found to be mediated by 5-HT1P receptors; it is postulated that 5-HT1P receptors may be involved in initiation of the peristaltic reflex and in the regulation of gastic emptying. 5-HT3 receptors have been shown to be responsible for fast depolarizations of myenteric and submucosal neurons associated with a rise in membrane conductance. These responses are antagonized by ICS 205-930 and mimicked by 2-methyl-5-HT. 5-HT1A receptors have been reported by others to mediate hyperpolarizing responses of myenteric neurons associated with a rise in membrane conductance. Hyperpolarizing responses are also elicited by the 5-HT1A agonist, 8-OH-DPAT. No physiological role has yet been identified for 5-HT3 or 5-HT1A receptors in the ENS.

Innervation of arteriovenous anastomoses in the web of the foot of the domestic duck, Anas platyrhynchos: structural evidence for the presence of non-adrenergic non-cholinergic nerves

An analysis of the innervation of arteriovenous anastomoses in the web of the foot of the Pekin Duck (Anas platyrhynchos) was compared with the innervation of the right atrium of the duck heart using histochemical, ultrastructural and morphometric techniques, before and after 6OHDA. The presence of intense catecholamine fluorescence and nerve terminals containing typical noradrenergic small dense-cored vesicles, together with the absence of fluorescence and degeneration of noradrenergic terminals after 6OHDA, indicated the presence of a dense adrenergic innervation at the periphery of the anastomoses. Ultrastructural and histochemical data gave support to the presence of a cholinergic innervation. There was evidence that arteriovenous anastomoses were innervated by non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic nerves, viz. after 6OHDA, the mean diameter, mean percentage and mean density of granular vesicles in axon profiles associated with anastomoses (107 . 25 nm, 22 . 34% and 12 . 73 vesicles micron-2, respectively) were significantly higher (P less than 0 . 001) than values in the atrium (87 . 13 nm, 9 . 92% and 5 . 51 vesicles micron-2, respectively) and axons associated with anastomoses contained large granular vesicles ranging up to 210 nm in diameter. This non-adrenergic non-cholinergic innervation may represent the non-adrenergic non-cholinergic vasodilatory nerves shown by pharmacological methods to be present in the foot of the Pekin Duck.

Distribution and types of adrenoceptors in the guinea-pig ileum: the action of alpha- and beta-adrenoceptor blocking agents

1 Transmurally stimulated segments of the guinea-pig ileum have been used to analyse the different adrenoceptors in the terminal (0 to 3 cm) and the proximal (> 50 cm from the ileocaecal valve) ileum.2 The prejunctional adrenoceptors (located on the final, cholinergic, motor nerve terminals) and postjunctional adrenoceptors (located on the smooth muscle membrane) have been characterized according to their sensitivity to alpha- and beta-agonists and antagonists.3 Phentolamine, phenoxybenzamine and yohimbine, in concentrations of 0.1 muM, transiently enhanced (up to 10%) the twitch response. At higher concentrations all the alpha- and beta-antagonists studied depressed the neurogenic twitches and relaxed the smooth muscle.4 The twitch-inhibitory effects of adrenoceptor agonists (noradrenaline, adrenaline and ephedrine) were not antagonized by phenoxybenzamine (0.1, 0.5 and 1 muM), carbidine (0.5, 1 and 5 muM) and propranolol (0.5, 1 and 5 muM); however, they were depressed by phentolamine (0.1, 0.5, 1.25 and 5 muM) and yohimbine (0.25, 0.5 and 5 muM).5 The smooth muscle contractions induced by noradrenaline and adrenaline in the terminal ileum and by phenylephrine in both the terminal and proximal ileum were antagonized by phenoxybenzamine, carbidine and phentolamine but were not influenced by yohimbine and propranolol.6 The smooth muscle relaxations of the proximal ileum induced by noradrenaline, adrenaline and ephedrine were inhibited by yohimbine, phentolamine, carbidine and phenoxybenzamine, and the isoprenaline-induced relaxation was antagonized by propranolol.7 All the agonists studied, except phenylephrine, elicited relaxations of the acetylcholine-induced sustained contraction of both proximal and terminal ileum. The relaxation induced by isoprenaline was antagonized by propranolol, and the effects of noradrenaline and ephedrine by yohimbine.8 It is concluded that in the guinea-pig ileum there are postsynaptic beta-adrenoceptors and at least two types of alpha-adrenoceptors: alpha(1)-excitatory postjunctional adrenoceptors activated by phenylephrine, noradrenaline and adrenaline and antagonized by phenoxybenzamine, carbidine and phentolamine; alpha(2)-inhibitory prejunctional adrenoceptors activated by ephedrine, noradrenaline and adrenaline and inhibited by yohimbine and phentolamine. The inhibitory postjunctional alpha-adrenoceptors are more close to the alpha(2)-adrenoceptors, since they were stimulated predominantly by ephedrine and noradrenaline and inhibited by yohimbine.9 It has been shown that all alpha-adrenoceptor subtypes are to be found at every distance (0 to 70 cm) from the ileocaecal valve and that they can be activated in the resting or in the acetylcholine-contracted states.

Alpha adrenergic contributions to dysrhythmia during myocardial ischemia and reperfusion in cats

Alpha compared to beta adrenergic contributions to dysrhythmias induced by left anterior descending coronary occlusion and by reperfusion were assessed in chloralose-anesthetized cats (n = 96). Alpha receptor blockade with either phentolamine or prazosin significantly reduced the number of premature ventricular complexes during coronary reperfusion (321 +/- 62-14 +/- 10 premature ventricular complexes, P less than 0.001), abolished early ventricular fibrillation (from 25% in controls to 0%), and prevented the increase in idioventricular rate seen with coronary reperfusion. However, beta-receptor blockade was without effect. Ventricular dysrhythmias induced by coronary occlusion alone (without reperfusion) were attenuated markedly by alpha-receptor blockade under conditions in which perfusion (measured with radiolabeled microspheres) within ischemic zones was not affected. Alternative sympatholytic interventions including pretreatment with 6-hydroxydopamine to deplete myocardial norepinephrine from 8.8 +/- 1.4 to 0.83 +/- 0.2 ng/mg protein and render the heart unresponsive to tyramine (120 microgram/kg) attenuated dysrhythmias induced by both coronary occlusion and reperfusion in a fashion identical to that seen with alpha-receptor blockade. Although efferent sympathetic activation induced by left stellate nerve stimulation increased idioventricular rate from 66 +/- 6 to 144+/- 7 beats/min (P less than 0.01) before coronary occlusion, this response was blocked by propranolol but not by phentolamine. In contrast, during reperfusion the increase in idioventricular rate induced by left stellate nerve stimulation (to 203 +/- 14) was not inhibited by propranolol but was abolished by phentolamine (79 +/- 10). Intracoronary methoxamine (0.1 microM) in animals depleted of myocardial catecholamines by 6-hydroxydopamine pretreatment did not affect idioventricular rate before coronary occlusion. However, early after coronary reperfusion, methoxamine increased idioventricular rate from 33 +/- 7 to 123 +/- 21 beats/min (P less than 0.01). Thus, enhanced alpha-adrenergic responsiveness occurs during myocardial ischemia and appears to be primary mediator of the electrophysiological derangements and resulting malignant dysrhythmias induced by catecholamines during myocardial ischemia and reperfusion.

Characteristics of the internal anal sphincter and the rectum of the vervet monkey

1. The physiology of the internal anal sphincter of the vervet monkey was investigated. 2. Strips of sphincter in vitro contracted to noradrenaline and adrenaline; adrenoceptors were mainly alpha-excitatory. Strips of rectal circular muscle relaxed to noradrenaline and contained both inhibitory alpha- and beta-adrenoceptors. 3. All strips contracted to acetylcholine. After hyoscine or atropine, high doses of acetylcholine relaxed all strips by stimulating intramural inhibitory neurones as relaxations were blocked by tetrodotoxin and hexamethonium. Nicotine and DMPP gave relaxations with similar characteristics. 4. It was concluded that relaxations to acetylcholine, nicotine and DMPP were not adrenergic as relaxations still occurred in strips from sympathetically denervated or reserpinized animals. The block of these relaxations by propranolol and guanethidine was considered to be unrelated to their actions as adrenergic blocking drugs. 5. All strips relaxed to field electrical stimulation (1--5 Hz) through stimulation of intramural inhibitory neurones as tetrodotoxin blocked these relaxations. Adrenergic blocking drugs, prior reserpinization or prior section of the hypogastric nerves did not block these responses. The relaxations were not therefore adrenergic. 6. 5-Hydroxytryptamine relaxed all strips but was not the transmitter in relaxations to acetylcholine, DMPP or nicotine, nor to field electrical stimulation, as desensitization of strips of 5-HT did not alter these responses. 7. The circular smooth muscle of the internal anal sphincter had a dense terminal adrenergic innervation which rapidly decreased orad. 8. In vivo, hypogastric nerve stimulation relaxed the rectum but contracted the sphincter. Sacral nerve root stimulation caused an after-contraction in both rectum and sphincter. In vivo, a close arterial injection of adrenaline or noradrenaline inhibited the spontaneous contraction waves of the rectum, but contracted the sphincter. Both these responses were blocked by phentolamine. 9. It was concluded that the internal anal sphincter is a discrete high pressure zone which was excitatory cholinergic and adrenergic innervations and an inhibitory non-adrenergic innervation.

Acetylcholine-norepinephrine interactions on potassium movements in the sinus node

Possible adrenergic mechanisms involved in acetylcholine (ACh) induced potassium movements in the sinus node have been investigated using a tracer potassium (42K) and a microelectrode technique. The ACh-induced increase in 42K uptake was enhanced by propranolol and was unaffected by phentolamine. Reserpinization neither prevented the ACh-induced increase in 42K uptake nor the enhanced effect in the presence of propranolol. In reserpinized preparations, ACh-induced 42K uptake was the same before and after norepinephrine (NE) administration, but was greater after acute reserpinization. NE alone induced an increase in 42K uptake but the simultaneous administration of ACh and NE provoked an increase in 42K uptake similar to that obtained with ACh alone. When both neuromediators and atropine were given simultaneously, an increase in 42K uptake did not occur. Thus, the ACh induces an increase in 42K uptake independently of NE. ACh antagonizes the NE effect on 42K uptake independently of a muscarinic interaction.

Epinephrine inhibition of the electrodermal response in the cat

Intravenous administration of epinephrine results in a dose-dependent inhibition of the peripherally evoked electrodermal response (EDR) in the cat. The magnitude of this depression of the EDR was greater when the responses were evoked by a single shock than by a train of shocks (10-12 Hz). The observation that this epinephrine-induced inhibition is antagonized by phentolamine suggests that an alpha-adrenergic mechanism is involved. It is unlikely that this effect is due primarily to the vascular actions of epinephrine because the inhibition of the EDR was much more prolonged than was the pressor action. Angiotensin was ineffective in inhibiting these responses.

The effect of ethacrynic acid on the guinea-pig and rat isolated vas deferens

1 The effect of ethacrynic acid (EA) was studied on guinea-pig and rat vas deferens in vitro.2 EA contracted the guinea-pig but not the rat vas deferens in a dose-dependent manner (50-800 mug/ml). Tyramine caused contraction in 10 out of 18 guinea-pig vas deferens; EA caused contraction in 17 of the preparations which did not respond to tyramine. Repeated doses of EA produced tachyphylaxis, but there was no cross tachyphylaxis to tyramine.3 The contractions produced by EA were prevented by phentolamine or reserpine pretreatment and potentiated by cocaine. A low concentration of desipramine (3 ng/ml) potentiated and higher concentrations (0.6 and 3.0 mug/ml) inhibited the response of vas deferens to EA.4 Hexamethonium (100 mug/ml) or atropine (0.1 mug/ml) did not inhibit the effect of EA, excluding the nicotinic and muscarinic receptors as the sites of action.5 The effect of noradrenaline (NA) on the guinea-pig and rat vas deferens was enhanced by EA pretreatment, which may be due to inhibition of NA uptake.6 It is concluded that EA releases NA from guinea-pig vas deferens. The mechanism of release seems to be different from that of tyramine.

Effects of cholinergic and adrenergic blocking agents on the activity of the eccrine sweat glands

1. The effects of blocking agents on the responsiveness of the cast' pad and human forearm sweat glands have been studied.2. Of the anti-adrenergic substances examined (dibenamine, phenoxybenzamine, bretylium, guanethidine and phentolamine) only high doses of guanethidine and phentolamine produced any consistent and significant measure of blockade, and small doses of atropine were as effective as these large doses of guanethidine or phentolamine.3. It is concluded from the blockade of chemical stimulation as well as transmission by these substances that (1) there are only cholinergic fibres innervating eccrine sweat glands, and (2) any inhibitory action by anti-adrenergic substances is due to interaction with cholinergic receptors in the glands.

The effects of adrenaline, noradrenaline and isoprenaline on inhibitory alpha- and beta-adrenoceptors in the longitudinal muscle of the guinea-pig ileum

1. Two preparations, a segment of the ileum and the myenteric plexuslongitudinal muscle preparation, have been used for an analysis of the inhibitory effects of adrenaline, noradrenaline and isoprenaline on the contractor responses of the longitudinal muscle to acetylcholine or to electrical, coaxial or field, stimulation.2. Since the inhibitory effects of adrenaline, noradrenaline and isoprenaline on the acetylcholine-induced contractions were not affected by phenoxybenzamine but were antagonized by propranolol, it is concluded that beta-adrenoceptors are present on the muscle cells.3. The responses to electrical stimulation were suppressed by adrenaline or noradrenaline but only partly inhibited by isoprenaline. Propranolol antagonized the effect of isoprenaline and, to some extent, that of noradrenaline, but scarcely affected the action of adrenaline. Phenoxybenzamine, on the other hand, antagonized most of the effect of adrenaline and, to some extent, that of noradrenaline; it usually potentiated the effect of isoprenaline.4. The output of acetylcholine evoked by electrical stimulation was diminished by adrenaline or noradrenaline but was not affected by isoprenaline. The depressant effect on acetylcholine release was antagonized by phenoxybenzamine but not affected by propranolol; therefore these effects of adrenaline and noradrenaline are mediated by alpha-adrenoceptors.5. It may be assumed that alpha-adrenoceptors in situ are stimulated mainly by circulating adrenaline and possibly noradrenaline and thus cause a prejunctional inhibition at the nerve-smooth muscle junction.

Studies on renal vasomotion

1. The present investigation was made on the left kidney of the dog. The animals were anaesthetized intravenously with pentobarbitone (30 mg/kg) and the kidneys were perfused with saline at room temperature (20 degrees -22 degrees C). The renal innervation was untouched.2. Stimulation of the left splanchnic major nerve at T10-T12, and of the renal nerves, consistently caused renal vasoconstriction.3. Repeated stimulation of both supradiaphragmatic vagi failed to induce any vasomotion in the kidney.4. The vasoconstrictor effect was not blocked by either nicotine or hexamethonium even in enormous doses (30,000 mug). This may indicate that renal ganglia do not exist, for these ganglion blockers would prevent transmission across the ganglia.5. Kidney perfusate, re-injected into the kidney after vasoconstriction induced by stimulation of the renal nerves, brought about a notable reduction in outflow. This effect was not observed when perfusate from a non-stimulated kidney was used. This points to the release of a vasoconstrictor substance after nervous stimulation.6. Acetylcholine (ACh) in concentrations ranging from 0.001 mug/ml. caused a reduction in renal outflow. Thresholds were extremely variable. Higher concentrations of ACh (100-1,000 mug/ml.) often induced vasodilatation. The vasoconstrictor effect of ACh was not blocked by atropine.7. Nicotine and hexamethonium (10,000-30,000 mug) induced blockade which elevated the threshold for ACh to values of 1,000 mug/ml.8. Noradrenaline (0.0001 mug/ml.) induced a strong renal vasoconstriction.9. Hydergine (5-10 ml. solutions in concentrations ranging from 15 to 30 mug/ml.) blocked the renal response to nerve stimulation. This suggests that the nature of the renal innervation is adrenergic.10. In diseased kidneys which show reduction of the lumen of the arterioles, the thresholds for ACh, nicotine and noradrenaline are greatly increased, which might explain why we failed to show any effect of these drugs on renal vasomotion in several kidneys, many of which were not examined histologically.11. The collision technique was applied in an attempt to discover the nature of the fibres activated by ACh. It was found that ACh greatly reduced the size of the action potentials generated by splanchnic stimulation. This would seem to indicate that these impulses are conducted antidromically by sympathetic postganglionic fibres.12. These findings are discussed in relation to the hypothesis that the renal innervation is chiefly adrenergic and that ACh acts as a sympathetic transmitter, liberating noradrenaline, and that this effect is blocked at postganglionic endings, or at some structure intervening between adrenergic nerve endings and the effector cells, or at sensory nerve endings.