Accumulation of α-methyltyramine by the noradrenaline uptake process in the isolated rat heart

Abstract

In the perfused isolated rat heart 3H-α-methyltyramine is accumulated as rapidly as noradrenaline. The accumulation of 3H-α-methyltyramine is reduced by the presence of noradrenaline or other drugs known to inhibit the noradrenaline uptake mechanism. 3H-α-Methyltyramine and noradrenaline probably compete for a common uptake mechanism. In these experiments less than 5% of the 3H-α-methyltyramine accumulated by the heart was metabolised to α-methyloctopamine.