Electrical stimulation of sympathetic nerves increases the concentration of cyclic AMP in rat pineal gland.

W. E. Heydorn, A. Frazer, B. Weiss

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

24 Scopus citations

Abstract

Electrical stimulation of the superior cervical ganglia causes a rapid increase in the concentration of cyclic AMP in the pineal gland of rats. This effect is dependent upon the frequency, voltage, and duration of the stimulus and is markedly potentiated by pretreating the animals with desmethylimipramine. The increase in cyclic AMP is blocked by prior treatment of the rats with reserpine, bretylium, or propanolol but not with phentolamine. These results provide direct evidence that electrical stimulation of sympathetic nerves increases cyclic AMP in a target organ through the release of norepinephrine from presynaptic terminals acting on postsynaptic beta-adrenergic receptors.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)7176-7179
Number of pages4
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume78
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 1981
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Electrical stimulation of sympathetic nerves increases the concentration of cyclic AMP in rat pineal gland.'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this