Adrenergic Mechanisms in Cerebral Blood Vessels: Effect of Tyramine on the Isolated Middle Cerebral Artery of the Goat

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Abstract
Tyramine induces dose-dependent changes in tension of the isolated middle cerebral artery of the goat. Cocaine, phentolamine and reserpine reduce the sensitivity of the tissue to tyramine by factors of 2.8, 3.7 and 3.7, respectively. The norepinephrine (NE) concentration of the arteries of the circle of Willis is 2.10 µg per gram and the corresponding value for the right atria is 1.25 µ per gram. Reserpine pretreatment (0.02 mg/kg/day for three days) reduces the NE concentration of the cerebral arteries to undetectable levels and that of the right atria to 2.4% of the control value. The relatively high concentration of NE of the cerebral arteries of the goat suggests that this tissue receives considerable sympathetic innervation. It is likely that part of the contractile response to tyramine is due to release of endogenous NE from sympathetic stores in the artery. However, some contractile response to tyramine remains after α-adrenergic blockade, reserpine pretreatment and in the presence of cocaine, suggesting that in addition to an indirect action (release of NE) tyramine also possesses a direct stimulatory effect in cerebral arteries.