The neuronal and extraneuronal uptake and metabolism of 3H-(-)-noradrenaline in the perfused rat heart.

1. Hearts were obtained from reserpine-pretreated rats and perfused with 0.95 micron 3H(-)-noradrenaline. The rate of removal of 3H-noradrenaline from the perfusion fluid was measured (from the arterio-venous difference) as well as the rate at which the 3H-metabolites appeared in the venous effluent. 2. When either 30micron corticosterone was added under steady-state conditions during perfusion with 3H-noradrenaline (to inhibit neuronal and extraneuronal uptake, respectively), each inhibitor reduced the removal of noradrenaline by about 50%; in the presence of both inhibitors removal was abolished. 3. Dihydroxymandelic acid (DOMA) was of neuronal, normetanephrine (NMN) of extraneuronal origin; dihydroxyphenylglycol (DOPEG) and the OMDA fraction (containing methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol-MOPEG-and methoxyhydroxymandelic acid-VMA) were formed both neuronally and extra-neuronally. 4. The extraneuronal metabolism of 3H-noradrenaline was in quick equilibrium with the 3H-noradrenaline in the perfusion fluid; most of the total formation of DOPEG, MOPEG and NMN was recovered from the venous effluent. 5. Extraneuronally formed DOPEG, MOPEG and NMN distributed in the tissue with half times corresponding to their half time for efflux. 6. Inhibition of monoamine oxidase (MAO) by pargyline increased the extraneuronal formation of NMN; MAO and catechol-O-methyl transferase (COMT) appear to be contained in the same extraneuronal compartment. 7. The extraneuronal accumulation of 3H-noradrenaline required 30 min or more to reach a steady state; inhibition of one or both enzymes slowed this process. Inhibition of MAO increased the extra-neuronal accumulation of 3H-noradrenaline; inhibition of COMT failed to do so, since the enzyme inhibitor (U-0521) was a weak inhibitor of extra-neuronal uptake. 8. The rate constants for the efflux of the metabolites of noradrenaline decreased in the order of MOPEG greater than DOPEG greater than NMN greater than DOMA greater than VMA.