Characterization and presynaptic modulation of stimulation-evoked exocytotic co-release of noradrenaline and neuropeptide Y in guinea pig heart

The relationship between noradrenaline and neuropeptide Y (NPY) release was investigated in the in situ perfused guinea pig heart with intact sympathetic innervation. For determination of NPY concentrations in the perfusate, a specific radioimmunoassay was employed and further characterized. Electrical stimulation of the left stellate ganglion (4, 8, 12, and 50 Hz; for 10 min) evoked a calcium-dependent and frequency-related overflow of noradrenaline and NPY, which was positively correlated (r = 0.83; p < 0.001; n = 25). When two subsequent stimulations (12 Hz; each for 1 min) were performed in the same heart, addition of noradrenaline (10 μM) 5 min prior to the second stimulation reduced NPY overflow by 43 ± 10%. The stimulated release of noradrenaline and NPY was increased by the alpha₂-adrenoceptor antagonist yohimbine (1 μM) to 170 ± 10% and 199 ± 26%, and attenuated by the alpha₂-adrenoceptor agonist B-HT 920 (1 μM) to 70 ± 9% and 68 ± 9%, respectively. The adenosine analogue cyclohexyladenosine (1 μM) significantly reduced the stimulated overflow of both noradrenaline (to 57 ± 5%) and NPY (to 73 ± 8%). Exogenous NPY (100 nM) attenuated the stimulated overflow of noradrenaline by 30 ± 6%. Uptake₁ blockade with desipramine (100 nM) or nisoxetine (100 nM) prior to the second stimulation significantly increased noradrenaline overflow and attenuated that of NPY; the attenuation of the stimulation-evoked overflow of NPY was abolished by yohimbine (1 μM). Our results indicate that electrical stimulation induces a calcium-dependent, exocytotic co-release of noradrenaline and NPY. The co-release of both transmitters is regulated by presynaptic receptors in a parallel manner; furthermore, both transmitters, noradrenaline and possibly NPY, modulate their own release by a presynaptic negative feedback mechanism via presynaptic alpha₂-adrenoceptors and NPY-receptors.