The inhibition by dopamine of cholinergic transmission in the isolated guinea-pig ileum. Mediation through alpha-adrenoceptors.

1. Segments of the guinea-pig ileum were incubated in Tyrode's solution containing 3 μM propranolol. Dopamine, like noradrenaline and clonidine, inhibited the twitch response to field stimulation. The inhibitory action of dopamine remained unchanged in the presence of the dopamine uptake inhibitor nomifensine (1 μM). Tissue from reserpine-pretreated amimals was insensitive to tyramine but the response to dopamine was not affected. It is, therefore, assumed that the effect of dopamine is due to a direct receptor stimulation and not to the release of noradrenaline. 2. The inhibitory action of dopamine was not antagonized by the dopamine receptor antagonists cis-flupenthixol, pimozide or dompe…