Noradrenaline treatment of rats stimulates H2O2 generation in liver mitochondria

Treatment of rats with noradrenaline stimulated H2O2 generation in liver mitochondria using succinate, choline or glycerol 1-phosphate as substrate. The dehydrogenase activity with either succinate or choline as substrate showed no change, whereas that with glycerol 1-phosphate increased. The effect was obtained with noradrenaline, but not with dihydroxyphenylserine. Phenoxybenzamine and yohimbine, but not propranolol, prevented the response to noradrenaline treatment. Phenylephrine could stimulate H2O2 generation, whereas isoprenaline had only a marginal effect. Theophylline treatment slightly decreased the generation of H2O2 in liver mitochondria, but treatment with pargyline, Ro4-1284 and dibutyryl cyclic AMP had little effect. These studies showed that noradrenaline might possibly be acting through the alpha 2-adrenergic system.