Multiple sites of action of (+)-3-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-N-(1-propyl)piperidine ((+)-3PPP) in blood vessels.

Functional effects of the sigma ligand, (+)-3-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-N-(1-propyl)piperidine ((+)-3PPP), were explored in perfused rat tail and rabbit ear arteries in vitro. In the rat tail artery (+)-3PPP inhibited contractile responses to adrenergic nerve stimulation, an effect which was reversed to potentiation by the dopamine D2 receptor antagonist sulpiride. In the rabbit ear artery, however, (+)-3PPP potentiated contractile responses to nerve stimulation, an effect which was unchanged by sulpiride. In the rat tail artery, blockade of norepinephrine uptake by cocaine and deoxycorticosterone in the presence of sulpiride revealed two additional actions of (+)-3PPP. First, an inhibitory action on the monoamine uptake site was confirmed by direct measurement of [3H]norepinephrine accumulation. Second, at higher concentrations, an action to inhibit contractile responses to adrenergic nerve stimulation was manifested at a still unidentified site. These studies demonstrate that the observed functional effect of (+)-3PPP results from its combined actions on three individual sites with the net effect dependent on the relative densities of these different receptor sites in each type of vessel.