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Evidence for functional separation of alpha-1 and alpha-2 noradrenaline receptors by pre-synaptic terminal re-uptake mechanisms

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Abstract

Information transfer within the central nervous system is predominantly chemical in nature, and occurs both through synaptic specialisations and non-specific diffuse release. The localisation and description of receptors for these two types of neurotransmission is currently a contentious issue. In the present study, the noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor cocaine has been shown to overcome the inhibitory effects of idazoxan, a selective alpha-2 receptor antagonist, but not phentolamine, a non-selective alpha receptor antagonist, on eating following injection of noradrenaline into the rat hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus. Similarly, lesion by 6-hydroxydopamine of noradrenaline terminals in the paraventricular nucleus also reduced the efficacy of idazoxan in blocking eating induced by noradrenaline. These data confirm that post-synaptic alpha-2 receptors are involved in the feeding response to exogenous noradrenaline, but in addition, when taken in conjunction with previously published data, are used to suggest a differential distribution of NA receptors within the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus. It is proposed that the alpha-2 subtype may be extrasynaptic, the alpha-1 subtype intrasynaptic.

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Author notes

  1. Andrew J. M. Clark

    Present address: Department of Experimental Psychology, South Parks Road, OX1 3UD, Oxford, UK

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Psychological Laboratory, University of St. Andrews, KY16 9JU, St. Andrews, Fife, UK

    Andrew J. M. Clark & Philip Winn

  2. Department of Pharmacology, University of Edinburgh, EH8 9JZ, Edinburgh, UK

    Steven P. Butcher

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  1. Andrew J. M. Clark
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  2. Steven P. Butcher
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  3. Philip Winn
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Clark, A.J.M., Butcher, S.P. & Winn, P. Evidence for functional separation of alpha-1 and alpha-2 noradrenaline receptors by pre-synaptic terminal re-uptake mechanisms. Psychopharmacology 103, 366–374 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02244291

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02244291

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