Norepinephrine Uptake in Guinea Pig Lung

Abstract

Lungs from control and sensitized guinea pigs were perfused via the pulmonary artery with Tyrode’s solution. Infusion of equimolar concentrations (3 × 10^––⁹ to 3 × 10^––6M) of ³H-1-norepinephrine (NE) and ¹⁴C-urea was started 1 min after injection of 1 ml 0.9% NaCl or 50 mg ovalbumin in 1 ml 0.9% NaCl and continued for 15 min. Anaphylactic lungs retained more urea, NE, and NE metabolites than control lungs at all NE concentrations and the proportion of unchanged NE was higher. Phenoxybenzamine decreased the ³H/¹⁴C ratio due to decreased ³H accumulation. Cocaine affected predominantly the control lungs. The results indicate that anaphylaxis increased the net uptake of NE in the lung and decreased the metabolism of retained NE.