Summary
The effects of the central noradrenaline receptor stimulating agent clonidine on blood pressure, heart rate, and flexor reflex activity were studied in intact rats and in rats chronically treated with ethanol. The clonidine-induced changes were similar in ethanol-treated animals and in animals never subjected to ethanol. The results suggest that the sensitivity of central noradrenaline receptors involved in the mediation of the circulatory changes and of the flexor reflex activity after clonidine is not altered by chronic administration of ethanol.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ahtee, L., Svartström-Fraser, M. Effect of ethanol dependence and withdrawal on the catecholamines in rat brain and heart. Acta pharmacol. et toxicol.36, 289–298 (1975).
Andén, N.-E., Grabowska, M., Strömbom, U. Differentα-adrenoreceptors in the central nervous system mediating biochemical and functional effects of clonidine and receptor blocking agents. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Arch. Pharmacol.292, 43–52 (1976).
Engel, J., Liljequist, S. The effect of long-term ethanol treatment on the sensitivity of the dopamine receptors in the nucleus accumbens. Psycho-pharmacology49, 253–257 (1976).
Griffiths, P. J., Littleton, J. M., Ortiz, A. Changes in monoamine concentrations in mouse brain associated with ethanol dependence and withdrawal. Brit. J. Pharmacol.50, 489–498 (1974).
Henning, M.: Studies on the mode of action ofα-methyldopa. Acta physiol. scand. Suppl. 322 (1969).
Hunt, W. A., Majchrowicz, E. Alterations in the turnover of brain norepinephrine and dopamine in alcohol-dependent rats. J. Neurochem.23, 549–552 (1974).
Karoum, F., Wyatt, R. J., Majchrowicz, E. Brain concentrations of biogenic amine metabolites in acutely treated and ethanol-dependent rats. Brit. J. Pharmacol.56, 403–411 (1976).
Kobinger, W., Pichler, L. The central modulatory effect of clonidine on the cardiodepressor reflex after suppression of synthesis and storage of nor-adrenaline. European J. Pharmacol.30, 56–62 (1975).
Kobinger, W., Walland, A. Investigations into the mechanism of the hypotensive effect of 2-(2, 6-dichlorophenylamino)-2-imidazoline, HCl. European J. Pharmacol.2, 155–162 (1967).
Liljequist, S.: Changes in the sensitivity of dopamine receptors in the nucleus accumbens and in the striatum induced by chronic ethanol administration. Acta pharmacol. et toxicol., in press (1978).
Liljequist, S., Ahlenius, S., Engel, J. The effect of chronic ethanol treatment on behaviour and central monoamines in the rat. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Arch. Pharmacol.300, 205–216 (1977).
Liljequist, S., Engel, J. Behavioural changes after chronic ethanol treatment. In: Alcohol Intoxication and Withdrawal. III b: Studies in Alcohol Dependence (Gross, M. M., ed.). Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology85B, pp. 235–250. New York: Plenum Press. 1977.
Pohorecky, L. A., Jaffe, L. S., Berkeley, H. A. Ethanol withdrawal in the rat: involvement of noradrenergic neurons. Life Sci.15, 427–457 (1974).
Post, M. E., Sun, A. Y. The effect of chronic ethanol administration on the levels of catecholamines in different regions of the rat brain. Res. Comm. Chem. Path. Pharmacol.6, 887–894 (1973).
Schmitt, H., Schmitt, H., Fénard, S. Evidence for anα-sympathomimetic component in the effects of catapresan on vasomotor centres: antagonism by piperoxane. European J. Pharmacol.14, 98–100 (1971).
Schmitt, H., Schmitt, H., Fénard, S. Action ofα-adrenergic blocking drugs on the sympathetic centres and their interactions with the central sympatho-inhibitory effect of clonidine. Arzneimittel-Forsch.23, 40–45 (1973).
Siegel, S. Nonparametric Statistics for the Behavioural Sciences. New York: McGraw-Hill. 1956.
Trolin, G.: Involvement ofα-adrenergic receptors at different levels of the central nervous system in the regulation of blood pressure and heart frequency. Acta physiol. scand. Suppl. 430 (1975).
Zwieten, P. A. van The central action of antihypertensive drugs mediated via centralα-receptors. J. Pharm. Pharmacol.25, 89–95 (1973).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Liljequist, S., Andén, N.E., Engel, J. et al. Noradrenaline receptor sensitivity after chronic ethanol administration. J. Neural Transmission 43, 11–17 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02029015
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02029015