Role of neuroleptic agents on mouse pulmonary cyclic nucleotide systems

The norepinephrine (NE)-induced accumulation of cyclic AMP in incubated tissue slices of mouse lung was inhibited by chlorpromazine (CPZ) and to a lesser extent by haloperidol. In particulate lung fractions both agents blocked dopamine-sensitive adenylate cyclase to a greater degree than the NE-responsive enzyme. Again CPZ was more potent than haloperidol. Acute injections (1/2--8h) of the neuroleptics usually resulted in lower steady state levels of pulmonary cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP following rapid (0.5 sec) tissue inactivation by microwave irradiation. On a subchronic injection schedule, the in vivo levels of pulmonary cyclic AMP tended to increase.