Alpha-adrenoceptor mediated responses of the cauda epididymis of the guinea-pig.

1. The subtypes of alpha-adrenoceptor mediating the contractile responses of the cauda epididymis of the guinea-pig were investigated. The alpha 1-adrenoceptor agonist phenylephrine, but not the alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonist, xylazine (up to 10 microM), elicited concentration-dependent contractions from preparations of cauda epididymis (EC50 3.4 microM). The L-type Ca2+ channel antagonist, nifedipine (10 microM), reduced the maximal response to phenylephrine (by 77%). Preincubation of tissues with the alpha 1B-adrenoceptor-alkylating agent, chloroethylclonidine (50 microM, 30 min), shifted phenylephrine concentration-response curves to the right (4 fold) only when the alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonist idazoxan (100 nM) was included during the pre-incubation with chloroethylclonidine. 2. Xylazine (1 microM) significantly shifted phenylephrine concentration-response curves to the left (3 fold); this effect was attenuated by idazoxan (100 nM). Both the incubation of preparations with nifedipine (10 microM) and the pre-incubation of preparations with chloroethylclonidine (50 microM, 30 min) attenuated the potentiating effects of xylazine (1 microM). Protection of alpha 2-adrenoceptors with idazoxan (100 nM) during the chloroethylclonidine (50 microM, 30 min) incubation restored the xylazine-mediated enhancement of phenylephrine concentration-response curves. Pertussis toxin (200 ng ml-1, 24 h) attenuated the xylazine (1 microM)-mediated potentiation of phenylephrine concentration-response curves. 3. Following the pre-incubation of preparations with chloroethylclonidine (50 microM, 30 min) 5-methylurapidil (10 nM to 3 microM) shifted phenylephrine concentration-response curves, in parallel, to the right with mean pKB values in the range of 8.27 (at 10 nM 5-methylurapidil) to 7.76 (at 3 microM 5-methylurapidil), the addition of idazoxan (100 nM) to the incubation medium did not significantly affect the 5-methylurapidil (10 to 300 nM) pKB values (8.41 to 7.64, respectively). In the presence of both idazoxan (100 nM) and nifedipine (10 microM), and following the pre-incubation with chloroethylclonidine (50 microM, 30 min), 5-methylurapidil (30 to 300 nM) still shifted phenylephrine concentration-response curves to the right (pKB values 7.77 to 7.36, respectively). 4. Phenylephrine (1 microM to 1 mM) increased the accumulation of [3H]-inositol phosphates (10 fold) in preparations of cauda epididymis (EC50 12 microM). This effect was sensitive to chloroethylclonidine pretreatment (50 microM, 30 min), antagonized with low affinity by 5-methylurapidil (- log pKi 7.8), but not potentiated by xylazine (1 microM). Xylazine (10 nM - 100 microM) reversed the forskolin (10 or 30 microM) stimulated accumulation of [3H]-adenosine 3':5'-cylic monophosphate (cyclic AMP) in preparations of cauda epididymis (by approximately 45%). Incubation of tissues with both pertussis toxin (200 ng ml-1, 24 h) and pertussis toxin vehicle increased the basal activity of adenylate cyclase (3 fold) but did not increase the capacity of forskolin (30 microM) to stimulate the accumulation of [3H]-cyclic AMP in these tissues. Xylazine did not significantly inhibit the forskolin-stimulated accumulation of [3H]-cyclic AMP in either vehicle or pertussis toxin treated tissues. 5. These studies indicate that the epididymis of the guinea-pig contains alpha 1- and alpha 2-adrenoceptors. On the basis of the actions of chloroethylclonidine and 5-methylurapidil the alpha 1-adrenoceptors of this tissue may be of the alpha 1A- and alpha 1B-subtypes and are linked to both the influx of extracellular Ca2+ and to phospholipase C. The alpha 2-adrenoceptors of this tissue are negatively coupled to adenylate cyclase, sensitive to pertussis toxin, but do not amplify phenylephrine-stimulated [3H]-inositol phosphate accumulation. Stimulation of the alpha 2-adrenoceptors of this tissue may selectively potentiate the influx of extracellular Ca2+.