Carteolol is a useful tool to prove the tonically functioning nature of presynaptic beta-adrenoceptors on peripheral noradrenergic neurons but not on central catecholaminergic neurons.

Effects of carteolol on norepinephrine (NE) release were studied at 2 Hz mainly in rat hypothalamic slices. Isoproterenol at 1 and 10 nM concentration-dependently facilitated NE release. Isoproterenol (10 nM)-induced facilitation was antagonized by 1 and 10 nM dl-carteolol, but not antagonized by 1 nM d-carteolol. dl-Carteolol alone at 1 nM to 10 microM did not inhibit NE release. In brainstem slices, 10 nM isoproterenol also facilitated NE release, and this facilitation tended to be antagonized by 1 nM dl-carteolol. Nanomolar concentrations of carteolol stereoselectively antagonized isoproterenol-induced facilitation of NE release via presynaptic beta-adrenoceptors in rat hypothalamic slices.