Release of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylglycol from the rat tail artery induced by veratridine
The overflow of endogenous 3,4-dihydroxyphenylethylene glycol and noradrenaline from the isolated rat tail artery was measured by high pressure liquid chromatography with amperometric detection. Veratridine, but not elevated external K, caused a significant increase in the overflow of the glycol under conditions when formation of the latter from released noradrenaline was prevented by blockade of neuronal uptake1 with desipramine. The results support the hypothesis that, in addition to evoking exocytotic release of noradrenaline into Ca-containing solution, the alkaloid also increases leakage of noradrenaline from storage vesicles. The latter process seems responsible for veratridine-induced release of noradrenaline into Ca2+-free solution.