Activation of DA1 receptors by dopamine or fenoldopam increases cyclic AMP levels in the renal artery but not in the superior cervical ganglion of the rat.

In the isolated superior cervical ganglion of the rat, activation of either DA1 or DA2 receptors leads to inhibition of ganglionic transmission. Using dopamine as well as relatively selective dopamine receptor agonists and antagonists we have performed electrophysiological as well as biochemical experiments to study the nature of dopamine receptors in this sympathetic ganglion. Fenoldopam, a selective DA1 receptor agonist caused marked inhibition of the compound postganglionic action potential evoked by stimulation of preganglionic nerve. The inhibitory effect of fenoldopam was antagonized by the DA1 receptor antagonist R-sulpiride but not by the DA2 receptor antagonist S-sulpiride. However, the more potent and selective DA1 receptor antagonist SCH-23390 failed to antagonize ganglion blocking effect of fenoldopam indicating that DA1 receptor in sympathetic ganglia is different from that in blood vessels. The superior cervical ganglion also contains DA2 receptors inasmuch as quinpirole, a DA2 receptor agonist, caused inhibition of ganglionic transmission which was antagonized by S-sulpiride but not by R-sulpiride. The existence of both subtypes of dopamine receptor in the superior cervical ganglion was ascertained further as dopamine itself caused inhibition of ganglionic transmission which was antagonized by either S- or R-sulpiride. Again, however, the DA1 receptor antagonist SCH-23390 failed to antagonize the ganglion blocking effect of dopamine. To characterize further the ganglionic DA1 receptor we sought to demonstrate whether or not ganglionic DA1 receptor is linked to the enzyme adenylate cyclase as is known to be the case for peripheral DA1 or central D1 dopamine receptors.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)