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Inhibition of the Extraneuronal Uptake of Catecholamine in the Isolated Rat Heart by Cholesterol

Nature New Biology volume 238, pages 91–92 (1972)Cite this article

Abstract

EARLIER work has demonstrated that the removal of catecholamines from plasma involves several different mechanisms: uptake into sympathetic nerve terminals1; extraneuronal uptake (“Uptake2”) into cardiac and smooth muscle and other tissues2, a process which is subsequently followed by metabolism of the amine3,4, and active transport across kidney tubules followed by excretion5. Various steroids, including corticosterone, 17-β-oestradiol and deoxycorticosterone, can selectively inhibit the extraneuronal uptake of noradrenaline (Uptake2) in the isolated perfused rat heart6,7. The inhibition of Uptake2 occurred at concentrations of steroid which exceeded those normally found in the plasma and is thus unlikely to be of physiological significance under normal conditions. We have now found, however, that cholesterol which is present in plasma at much higher concentrations than any other steroid8,9 also acts as an inhibitor of the Uptake2 mechanism.

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  1. Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 2QD

    P. J. SALT & L. L. IVERSEN

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  1. P. J. SALT
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  2. L. L. IVERSEN
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SALT, P., IVERSEN, L. Inhibition of the Extraneuronal Uptake of Catecholamine in the Isolated Rat Heart by Cholesterol. Nature New Biology 238, 91–92 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1038/newbio238091a0

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