Liberation of pyrocatechol amines from the isolated perfused adrenal gland by tyramine and beta-phenylethylamine

Abstract

1. When fresh cattle adrenals are perfusedin vitro with Tyrode's solution at 37°C, a spontaneous release of catechol amines takes place. This release is enhanced by the injection of tyramine or β-phenylethylamine. 2. In agreement with earlier observations on isolated medullary granules, β-phenylethylamine is more active than tyramine: 16 µM of β-phenylethylamine, 66 µM of tyramine, and 0.03 µM of acetylcholine release almost equal amounts of catechol amines.