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Biomedical subjects

A Giachetti

Publications and source records attributed to A Giachetti.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

On the role of the central noradrenergic and dopaminergic systems in the regulation of TSH secretion in the rat.

Systemic administration of drugs affecting central noradrenergic and dopaminergic systems was used to evaluate their role in the regulation of TSH secretion in the rat. Alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine (alpha-MT) caused a depletion of brain norepinephrine and dopamine and a gradual decrease of serum TSH levels. Specific inhibitors of dopamine-beta-hydroxylase, diethyldithiocarbamate (DDC) and FLA 63, depleted central norepinephrine only and led to a simultaneous striking decrease of serum TSH. Blockade of alpha adrenergic receptors with phenoxybenzamine, but not with phentolamine, also depressed serum TSH. Blockade of beta receptors with propranolol had no effect. In contrast, the centrally and peripherally acting alpha receptor agonist, clonidine, increased serum TSH, whereas the peripherally acting methoxamine caused a decrease, probably due to non specific stress effect. A dose-related rapid inhibition of TSH secretion was observed following stimulation of dopamine receptors with apomorphine. Injection of L-Dopa had a similar effect. Blockade of the dopamine receptors with pimozide did not alter serum TSH, while blockade with spiroperidol led to a slight increase. The cold-induced surgeof TSH was abolished by pretreatment with DDC or phenoxybenzamine, reduced by apomorphine, but unaffected by pimozide or propranolol. The pituitary responsiveness to exogenous TRH was unaffected by administration of DDC or apomorphine. On the basis of these results, it is assumed that the central noradrenergic system has a stimulatory effect on the release of TRH from the hypothalamus, reflected in our experiments by the changes of serum TSH levels. It probably provides the drive for the tonic release of TRH in resting conditions and stimuli for the enhanced secretion during cold exposure. The effect is probably mediated by a central alpha-adrenergic mechanism. Activation of the dopaminergic system is inhibitory, but the physiological role of this effect remains to be established.

Animals↗

Extra-vesicular binding of noradrenaline and guanethidine in the adrenergic neurones of the rat heart: a proposed site of action of adrenergic neurone blocking agents.

1 The binding and efflux characteristics of [14C]-guanethidine and [3H]-noradrenaline were studied in heart slices from rats which were pretreated with reserpine and nialamide. 2 Binding of both compounds occurred at extra-vesicular sites within the adrenergic neurone. After a brief period of rapid washout, the efflux of [14C]-guanethidine and [3H]-noradrenaline proceeded at a steady rate. The efflux of both compounds appeared to occur from a single intraneuronal compartment. 3 (+)-Amphetamine accelerated the efflux of [14C]-noradrenaline; this effect was inhibited by desipramine. 4 Unlabelled guanethidine and amantadine also increased the efflux of labelled compounds. Cocaine in high concentrations increased slightly the efflux of [14C]-guanethidine but not that of [3H]-noradrenaline. 5 Heart slices labelled with [3H]-noradrenaline became refractory to successive exposures to releasing agents although an appreciable amount of labelled compound was still present in in these slices. 6 It is suggested that [14C]-guanethidine and [3H]-noradrenaline are bound at a common extravesicular site within the adrenergic neurone. Binding of guanethidine to the extra-vesicular site may be relevant to its pharmacological action, i.e., the blockade of adrenergic transmission.

Amphetamine↗

On the formation of adrenergic amine storage granules as measured by reserpine labeling.

Reserpine appears to be bound specifically and irreversibly to amine storage granules in the adrenergic neuron. The presence of reserpine persistently attached to amine granule should reflect the life span of the vesicles, and any additional binding of reserpine should then measure the rate of appearance of newly formed amine granules. Measurement of the persistent binding of tritiated reserpine (3H-Reserpine) in hearts of rats given labeled compound at various times after a saturating dose of unlabeled reserpine showed that the recovery of 3H-reserpine binding capacity occurred rapidly. Four days after reserpine the 3H-reserpine binding was 30% of control rats. The rate of return of binding capacity was then slowed being 65% of normal in 24 days. Calculation of the mean daily increment of binding capacity showed that the rate was an inverse linear function of the binding capacitu existing in the neurone at an early phase (1--8 days) but became constant at a later interval (8--24 days). It is suggested that the return of reserpine binding capacity reflects the appearance of new storage granules and that the rate of storage granule synthesis in the cell body is under feedback control. The signal for enhanced granule formation does not appear to be related to the intensity of nerve traffic not to the concentration of transmitter in the neuron since manaeuvers which alter these parameters did not change the rate of reserpine binding recovery.

Amines↗