| Abstract: | Carbachol in the presence of atropine and propranolol was employed to stimulate a non-adrenergic neural inhibitory system in the hemilung of the bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana). Tissue levels of cGMP were elevated 95% by carbachol whilst cAMP levels were unchanged. The phosphodiesterase inhibitor papaverine did not affect either cAMP or cGMP levels, but did selectively increase the carbachol-induced increase in lung cGMP to 220% of control levels. Papaverine did not potentiate the relaxant effects of carbachol. The results suggest that cyclic nucleotides may not be directly involved in the relaxation produced by stimulation of the non-adrenergic neural inhibitory system in this preparation. |
