Increase in potassium release from rat parotid tissue repeatedly exposed to isoproterenol

The effect of repeated exposure to isoproterenol (ISO) in parotid tissue was investigated with regards to potassium release in response to a successive challenge of alpha- and beta-adrenergic agonists. An increase in potassium release by epinephrine was potentiated in the parotid tissue from rats repeatedly administered ISO (3 mg/kg, three times daily for 3 days). On the other hand, a decrease in the release by ISO disappeared in ISO-pretreated glands. Cycloheximide and actinomycin D, administered with ISO, completely blocked the ISO-induced development of the enhanced response to epinephrine, but not that of the reduced response to ISO. After in vitro pretreatment with ISO, the potassium release induced by a successive dose of ISO was higher than the basal release of the electrolyte. The same treatment showed a tendency to increase the response to norepinephrine. The increased release induced by a challenge dose of ISO disappeared in the tissue from cycloheximide-treated rats. The ISO-induced increase of potassium release which was caused by ISO-pretreatment in vitro was inhibited by prazosin, but not by yohimbin and propranolol. These results suggest the possibility that the alpha-adrenergic response in parotid tissue might be potentiated by exposure to ISO.