Abstract
The effects of adenosine analogues on the electrically-evoked norepinephrine(NE) release and the influence of ischemia on the effects were studied in the rat hippocampus. Slices from the rat hippocampus were equilibrated with $0.1{\mu}M$ $[^3H]-norepinephrine$ and the release of the labelled product, $[^3H]-NE$, was evoked by electrical stimulation(3 Hz, 2 ms, 5 $VCm^{-1}$ and rectangular pulses for 90 sec), and the influence of various agents on the evoked tritium-outflow was investigated. Ischemia(15min with 95% $N_2$ +5% $CO_2$) increased both the basal and evoked NE release. These increases were abolished by addition of glucose into the superfused medium, and they were significantly inhibited either by $0.3\;{\mu}M$ tetrodotoxin pretreatment or by removing $Ca^{++}$ in the medium. MK-801$(1{sim}10\;{\mu}M)$, a specific NMDA receptor antagonist, and glibenclamide $(1\;{\mu}M)$, a $K^+-channel$ inhibitor, neither alter the evoked NE release nor affected the Ischemia-Induced increases in NE release. However, polymyxin B(0.03 mg), a specific protein kinase C inhibitor, inhibited the effect of ischemia on the evoked NE release. Adenosine and $N^6-cyclopentyladenosine$ decreased the NE release in a dose-dependent manner in ischemic condition, though the magnitude of inhibition was far less than those in normal (normoxic) condition. Also the treatment with $5{\mu}M$ DPCPX, a potent $A_1-adenosine$ receptor antagonist did not affect the ischemia-effect. These results suggest that the evoked-NE release is potentiated by ischemia, and this process being most probably mediated by protein kinase C, and that the decrease of NE release mediated through $A_1-adenosine$ receptor is significantly inhibited in ischemic state.