Abstract
We previously showed that electrical stimulation of the nucleus locus coeruleus was followed 4 weeks later by a greatly improved performance in the acquisition of a food-reinforced operant task. To ascertain whether adrenergic receptors were involved in this long-term behavioral modification, we studied the characteristics of the α1, α2, and β-adrenoreceptors of the cerebral cortex 4 weeks after stimulation of the locus coeruleus. This stimulation induced a slight (14%) but significant increase in the number of α1-receptor [(3H) WB 4101 binding sites] as well a rise in the number of α2-receptor [(3H) clonidine binding sites]. The later rise mainly affected high-affinity α2 sites (36%) and the number of low-affinity sites remained unchanged. No significant alteration in the number of β-receptors [(3H)-dihydroalprenolol binding sites] was observed. To confirm this biochemical result, the effect of very small doses of clonidine (1, 2.5, 5 and 10 μg/kg) was tested on locomotor activity in the open-field. In rats stimulated 4 weeks before injection, clonidine induced a biphasic effect, comprising firstly sedation which occurred 30 min after injection, and secondly, long-term hyperactivity which began 24 h after injection. For the 5 μg/kg dose, this rebound of activity was detectable 8 days after injection. In implanted, control rats, only the sedative effect was observed. These findings are interpreted in relation to the current theories about α-adrenoreceptors.
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Velley, L., Cardo, B. & Bockaert, J. Modulation of rat brain α-adrenoreceptor populations four weeks after stimulation of the nucleus locus coeruleus. Psychopharmacology 74, 226–231 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00427099
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00427099