Doxapram stimulates dopamine release from the intact rat carotid body in vitro.

Article Details

Citation

Copy to clipboard

Anderson-Beck R, Wilson L, Brazier S, Hughes IE, Peers C

Doxapram stimulates dopamine release from the intact rat carotid body in vitro.

Neurosci Lett. 1995 Feb 24;187(1):25-8.

PubMed ID

7617294 [ View in PubMed

]

Abstract

Hypoxic chemotransduction by the carotid body is believed to involve inhibition of K+ channels in type I cells, leading to depolarization and the opening of Ca2+ channels which triggers catecholamine release. We have investigated whether the clinically used ventilatory stimulant doxapram (which, like hypoxia, blocks K+ channels in isolated type I cells) also stimulates catecholamine release from the intact carotid body in vitro, by pre-incubating tissues with [3H]tyrosine. 3H overflow was evoked by raised extracellular [K+] (60 mM) and by cyanide (2 mM). Doxapram (15-150 microM) also evoked 3H overflow in a concentration dependent manner, and doxapram-evoked release was inhibited by the Ca2+ channel blocker nifedipine (5 microM). Analysis of released tritiated compounds suggested that doxapram preferentially stimulated the release of dopamine. Our results indicate that the mechanism of action of doxapram shares similarities with that of hypoxia in the carotid body.

DrugBank Data that Cites this Article

Drug Targets

Drug	Target	Kind	Organism	Pharmacological Action	Actions
Doxapram	Potassium channel subfamily K member 3	Protein	Humans	Yes	Inhibitor	Details
Doxapram	Potassium channel subfamily K member 9	Protein	Humans	Yes	Inhibitor	Details