Skip to main content
Log in

Effect of yohimbine on brain monoamines: An in vivo study

  • Full Papers
  • Published:
Journal of Neural Transmission - Parkinson's Disease and Dementia Section

Summary

Following the administration of yohimbine, an α2-adrenoreceptor antagonist, the levels of norepinephrine (NE), dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), homovanillic acid (HVA), and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5HIAA) increased significantly in the lateral ventricular fluid of rats. These increases were abolished when animals were pretreated with α-methyl-para-tyrosine or reserpine. Dopamine (DA) was not detected in ventricular fluid either before or after yohimbine administration. Yohimbine administration did, however, increase intracellular DA levels in the corpus striatum. These findings indicate that yohimbine promotes NE and DA release in the brain and suggest that it also modifies the activity of the serotonin system.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Anden N-E, Grabowska M (1976) Pharmacological evidence for a stimulation of dopamine neurons by noradrenaline neurons in the brain. Eur J Pharmacol 39: 275–282

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Boissier JR, Simon P, Guidicelli JF (1968) Effects centraux de quelques substances adreno et/ou sympatholytiques. III. Ptosis, catalepsie, antagonisme vis-a-vis de l'apomorpine et de l'amphetamine. Arch Int Pharmacodyn 171: 68–80

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Brannan T, Bhardwaj A, Yahr MD (1990) L-threodops increases extracellular norepinephrine levels in the brain: an in vivo study. Neurology 40: 1134–1135

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dwoskin LP, Neal BS, Sparber SB (1988) Evidence for antiserotonergic properties of yohimbine. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 31: 321–326

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Edwards DJ, Sorisio DA (1988) Differential effects of yohimbine and phenoxybenzamine on norepinephrine metabolites in rat brain. Res Commun Chem Pathol Pharmacol 62: 195–206

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Goldberg MR, Robertson D (1983) Yohimbine: a pharmacological probe for study of the α2-adrenoreceptor. Pharmacol Rev 35: 143–180

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hedler L, Stamm G, Weitzell R, Starke K (1981) Functional characterization of central α-adrenoreceptors by yohimbine diastereomers. Eur J Pharmacol 70: 43–52

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lindvall O, Bjorklund A (1983) Dopamine and norepinephrine containing neuron systems: their anatomy in the rat brain. In: Emson PC (ed) Chemical neuroanatomy. Raven Press, New York, pp 229–254

    Google Scholar 

  • Mignot E, Laude D, Elghozi JL, Le Quan-bui KH, Meyer P (1982) Central administration of yohimbine increased free 3-methoxyl-4-hydrophenylglycol in the cerebrospinal fluid of the rat. Eur J Pharmacol 83: 135–138

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Montastruc JL, Puech AJ, Clanet M, Guirand-Chaumeil B, Rascol A (1981) La yohimbine dans le traitment de la maladie de Parkinson: Resultat preliminaire. Nouv Presse Med 10: 1331–1332

    Google Scholar 

  • Narabayashi H (1983) Pharmacological basis of akinesia on Parkinson's disease. J Neural Transm [Suppl] 19: 143–151

    Google Scholar 

  • Onrot J, Goldberg MR, Biaggioni I, Wiley RG, Hollister AS, Robertson D (1987) Oral yohimbine in human autonomic failure. Neurology 37: 215–220

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Papeschi R, Sourkes TL, Youdim MBH (1971) The effect of yohimbine on brain serotonin metabolism, motor behavior and body temperature of the rat. Eur J Pharmacol 15: 318–326

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Papeschi R (1974) An investigation on the behavioral and hypothermic effects of yohimbine: interaction with drugs affecting central and peripheral monoamines. Arch Int Pharmacodyn Ther 208: 61–74

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Scatton B, Zivkovic B, Dedek J (1973) Antidopaminergic properties of yohimbine. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 215: 494–499

    Google Scholar 

  • Slivka A, Brannan TS, Weinberger J, Knott PJ, Cohen G (1988) Increase in extracellular dopamine in the striatum during cerebral ischemia: a study utilizing cerebral microdialysis. J Neurochem 50: 1714–1718

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Brannan, T., Martinez-Tica, J. & Yahr, M.D. Effect of yohimbine on brain monoamines: An in vivo study. J Neural Transm Gen Sect 3, 81–87 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02260883

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02260883

Keywords

Navigation