Inhibition by trifluoperazine of glycogenolytic effects of phenylephrine, vasopressin, and angiotensin II.

The effects of trifluoperazine on the activation of glycogenolysis by various hormones were studied in perfused rat liver. Trifluoperazine significantly inhibited glycogenolytic effect of phenylephrine and angiotensin II by lowering maximal response, and that of vasopressin by shifting the dose-response curve to the right, while alpha-antagonist phentolamine was inhibitory only to phenylephrine. Phosphorylase activation of phenylephrine was inhibited by trifluoperazine in parallel with glycogenolytic response. The increase in 45Ca2+ efflux induced by phenylephrine, angiotensin II, and vasopressin was also inhibited by the agent. These inhibitory effects of trifluoperazine were not related to the change in tissue cyclic AMP or cyclic GMP levels. On the other hand, neither the glycogenolytic effect of glucagon, cyclic AMP, and N6,O2-dibutyryl cyclic AMP nor phosphorylase activation by glucagon was affected by trifluoperazine. Thus, trifluoperazine specifically inhibits the activation of glycogenolysis by Ca2+-dependent hormones.