Stimulation of prostaglandin E2-synthesis by noradrenaline in primary cell cultures from rabbit splenic pulpa is mediated by atypical alpha-adrenoceptors.

In primary cell cultures originating from rabbit splenic pulpa the effects of various adrenoceptor agonists on prostaglandin (PG)-synthesis were studied. The cells - microscopically identified as fibroblasts - released PGs into the medium: especially PGE2 besides small amounts of PGF2alpha and PGD2. Noradrenaline increased dose-dependently the amount of PGs released into the medium. Besides noradrenaline, only the catecholamines adrenaline and alpha-methylnoradrenaline strongly activated PG-synthesis. Other alpha-adrenoceptor agonists like the phenylethylamine and imidazoline derivatives were only weak agonists or completely ineffective. All adrenoceptor agonists without intrinsic activity in these cells antagonized the noradrenaline effect on PG-synthesis, the imidazolines being more potent antagonists than the phenylethylamines. The beta-adrenoceptor agonist isoprenaline stimulated PG-synthesis at high concentration only. The effects of both noradrenaline and isoprenaline were inhibited by low concentrations of phentolamine phenoxybenzamine, but not by propranolol. The preferential alpha2-adrenoceptor antagonists yohimbine and rauwolscine were about 50 times more potent in blocking the noradrenaline effect on PG-synthesis than the more alpha1-specific antagonist corynanthine. However, prazosin, another alpha1-adrenoceptor antagonist, was about equipotent with yohimbine. It is concluded that noradrenaline elicits PG-synthesis in rabbit splenic fibroblasts via alpha-adrenoceptor stimulation. The alpha-adrenoceptor involved has properties which are different from those reported so far for alpha1- or alpha2-adrenoceptors.