Adrenergic responses of the rabbit stomach serosal strip and their modification by monoamine oxidase inhibitors and anti-adrenergic drugs

Abstract

Abstract The rabbit stomach serosal strip, was found to contract to adrenaline and noradrenaline but not to isoprenaline. The contractile response could be totally abolished by phenoxybenzamine but was not influenced by propranolol, indicating that the preparation has almost exclusively α-adrenoceptors. The responses to adrenaline and noradrenaline were markedly potentiated in the presence of monoamine oxidase inhibitors, guanethidine or reserpine, indicating the presence of MAO activity in the tissue and possibly catecholamine stores. The functional state of the latter has not been conclusively established, since tyramine, an indirectly acting amine, was unable to elicit a response qualitatively similar to that of adrenaline, even in the presence of nialamide or tranylcypromine.