Differential blockade by (-)mianserin of the alpha 2-adrenoceptors mediating inhibition of noradrenaline and serotonin release from rat brain synaptosomes.

Mianserin and its two enantiomers were studied as antagonists of the alpha 2-adrenoceptors mediating inhibition of noradrenaline and 5-hydroxytryptamine release in rat brain cortex. The inhibitory effect of exogenous noradrenaline on the release of 3H-noradrenaline evoked by 15 mM KCl from superfused cortical synaptosomes was antagonized by racemic mianserin and by (+)mianserin; the (-)enantiomer was ineffective. In contrast, both (+)mianserin and (-)mianserin antagonized the inhibitory effect of noradrenaline on the release of 3H-5-hydroxytryptamine. The results suggest that the alpha 2-autoreceptors on noradrenergic nerve endings differ from the alpha 2-adrenoceptors located on serotoninergic terminals.