The use of the de deckere-ten hoor preparation for study of nicotinic and potassium-evoked dopamine ?-hydroxylase release from the rabbit heart

1. Dopamine β-hydroxylase (DBH) and noradrenaline were determined both in the venous effluent (perfusate) and in the transmyocardial fluid (TMF) collected from the apex of the rabbit isolated heart which was prepared according to De Deckere and Ten Hoor (1977) and perfused with Tyrode's solution at 20 ml/min. 2. Perfusion for 2 min with the nicotinic drug, p-aminophenethyl-trimethylammonium (PAPETA), both in the absence of presence of atropine evoked noradrenaline overflow into the perfusate and TMF that was maximal in the 0–2 min sample and declined from maximum with a t1/2 of 0.6 min. DBH was released into TMF with the maximum from 2–4 min and a t1/2 of decline of 5.6 min. 3. High K-low N…