A-Adrenergic neurons

R A Adrenergic neurone blocking activity Antihypertensive activity... 

Neuronal Norepinephrine Depleting Agents. Reserpine (Table 6) is the most active alkaloid derived from Rauwolfia serpentina. The principal antihypertensive mechanism of action primarily results from depletion of norepinephrine from peripheral sympathetic nerves and the brain adrenergic neurons. The result is a drastic decrease in the amount of norepinephrine released from these neurons, leading to decrease in vascular tone and lowering of blood pressure. Reserpine also depletes other transmitters including epinephrine, serotonin [50-67-9] dopamine [51-61-6] ... 

The biological actions of adrenaline and noradrenaline are mediated via nine different G-protein-coupled receptors, which are located in the plasma membrane of neuronal and nonneuronal target cells. These recqrtors are divided into two different groups, a-adrenergic receptors and P-adrenergic recqrtors (see P-adrenergic system). 

PTX caused a dose-dependent release of norepinephrine (NE). The NE release induced by lower concentrations of PTX increased proportionately with increasing Na concentrations, but was not modified by tetrodotoxin. However, the NE-releasing action of higher concentrations of PTX was dependent on external Ca, but not Na . Thus our experimental results suggest that in adrenergic neurons the PTX-induced release of NE by lower concentrations of PTX is brought about by tetrodotoxin-insensitive Na permeability, whereas that induced by higher concentrations is mainly caused by a direct increase of Ca influx into smooth muscle cells. 

Palytoxin (PTX) is one of the most potent marine toxins known and the lethal dose (LD q) of the toxin in mice is 0.5 Mg/kg when injected i.v. The molecular structure of the toxin has been determined fully (1,2). PTX causes contractions in smooth muscle (i) and has a positive inotropic action in cardiac muscle (4-6). PTX also induces membrane depolarization in intestinal smooth (i), skeletal (4), and heart muscles (5-7), myelinated fibers (8), spinal cord (9), and squid axons (10). PTX has been demonstrated to cause NE release from adrenergic neurons (11,12). Biochemical studies have indicated that PTX causes a release of K from erythrocytes, which is followed by hemolysis (13-15). The PTX-induced release of K from erythrocytes is depress by ouabain and that the binding of ouabain to the membrane fragments is inhibited by PTX (15). 

The answers are 321-cT 322-e, 323-i. (Hardman, pp 238-239, 791.) Reserpine is an adrenergic neuronal blocking agent that causes depletion of central and peripheral stores of NE and dopamine Reserpine acts by irreversibly inhibiting the magnesium-dependent ATP transport process that functions as a carrier for biogenic amines from the cytoplasm... 

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