Norepinephrine-induced phosphatidylcholine hydrolysis in intact rat aorta.

The present study tests whether norepinephrine induces the hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine (PC) in intact vascular smooth muscle. Norepinephrine and the phorbol ester, phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), increased the formation of choline and phosphorylcholine in rat aorta. The norepinephrine-induced PC hydrolysis was inhibited by the protein kinase C (PKC) antagonist, 1-(5-isoquinolinylsulfonyl)-2-methyl-piperazine (H7). These results suggest that the diacylglycerol formed during the sustained phase of the contractile response to norepinephrine may be derived, at least in part, from PC hydrolysis. The hydrolysis may be mediated through PKC activation of phospholipase C and D.