Epinephrine reduces the nerve conduction blockage induced by high-potassium in mammalian sciatic nerve.

We investigated the effects of epinephrine on the reversible nerve conduction block induced by high [K(+)](o) using electrophysiological extracellular recordings in the isolated rat sciatic nerve in vitro. Bath application of 400 micro M epinephrine (EN) or norepinephrine (NE) reduced the high-potassium-induced compound action potentials (CAPs) blockage in both sensory and motor fibers. The beta-adrenoreceptor agonist isoproterenol mimicked the EN effect while the alpha-adrenoreceptor agonists phenylephrine and guanfacine did not affect the CAPs reduction. Addition of EN to normal ACSF partially reversed the nerve conduction blockage induced by high frequency stimulation. These results suggest that EN and NE modulate the electrophysiological properties of both sensory and motor axons, and they improve the nerve conduction under high [K(+)](o) by modulating nerve excitability.