Differential role of brain ascending noradrenergic bundles in the circulatory effects of alpha-methyldopa and clonidine. 1993

M Van den Buuse, and G A Head, and P I Korner
Baker Medical Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia.

We examined the contribution of the ascending noradrenergic (NA) projections to the circulatory effects of intracisternal (i.c.) administration of clonidine and alpha-methyldopa (alpha-MD) in conscious rabbits. We compared the effects of combined dorsal and ventral NA fibre bundle lesions with those of individual bundle lesions. Local microinjection of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) bilaterally into both NA fibre bundles in the midbrain produced marked reduction in norepinephrine (NE) after 4 weeks in all forebrain regions examined, but dopamine concentrations generally were not affected. The decreases in mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) to i.c. injections of clonidine in animals with forebrain NE depletion were similar to those observed in vehicle-injected animals. In contrast, the normal decrease in HR produced by alpha-MD was abolished in rabbits with lesions of both the dorsal and ventral NA bundle (8% of control) and markedly reduced in rabbits with lesions of only the ventral bundle (33% of control). Lesions of the dorsal bundle alone produced a modest attenuation of bradycardia (62% of control). The effects of the lesions were not observed in sinoaortically denervated (SAD) rabbits, suggesting that the main component of the bradycardia affected was baroreflex vagal facilitation. The effects on the hypotension produced by alpha-MD were only slight.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D008750 Methyldopa An alpha-2 adrenergic agonist that has both central and peripheral nervous system effects. Its primary clinical use is as an antihypertensive agent. Methyldopate,alpha-Methyldopa,Aldomet,Alphamethyldopa,Apo-Methyldopa,Dopamet,Dopegit,Dopegyt,Dopergit,Hydopa,Meldopa,Nu-Medopa,Sembrina,alpha-Methyl-L-Dopa,Apo Methyldopa,Nu Medopa,alpha Methyl L Dopa,alpha Methyldopa
D009434 Neural Pathways Neural tracts connecting one part of the nervous system with another. Neural Interconnections,Interconnection, Neural,Interconnections, Neural,Neural Interconnection,Neural Pathway,Pathway, Neural,Pathways, Neural
D009638 Norepinephrine Precursor of epinephrine that is secreted by the ADRENAL MEDULLA and is a widespread central and autonomic neurotransmitter. Norepinephrine is the principal transmitter of most postganglionic sympathetic fibers, and of the diffuse projection system in the brain that arises from the LOCUS CERULEUS. It is also found in plants and is used pharmacologically as a sympathomimetic. Levarterenol,Levonorepinephrine,Noradrenaline,Arterenol,Levonor,Levophed,Levophed Bitartrate,Noradrenaline Bitartrate,Noradrénaline tartrate renaudin,Norepinephrin d-Tartrate (1:1),Norepinephrine Bitartrate,Norepinephrine Hydrochloride,Norepinephrine Hydrochloride, (+)-Isomer,Norepinephrine Hydrochloride, (+,-)-Isomer,Norepinephrine d-Tartrate (1:1),Norepinephrine l-Tartrate (1:1),Norepinephrine l-Tartrate (1:1), (+,-)-Isomer,Norepinephrine l-Tartrate (1:1), Monohydrate,Norepinephrine l-Tartrate (1:1), Monohydrate, (+)-Isomer,Norepinephrine l-Tartrate (1:2),Norepinephrine l-Tartrate, (+)-Isomer,Norepinephrine, (+)-Isomer,Norepinephrine, (+,-)-Isomer
D011817 Rabbits A burrowing plant-eating mammal with hind limbs that are longer than its fore limbs. It belongs to the family Leporidae of the order Lagomorpha, and in contrast to hares, possesses 22 instead of 24 pairs of chromosomes. Belgian Hare,New Zealand Rabbit,New Zealand Rabbits,New Zealand White Rabbit,Rabbit,Rabbit, Domestic,Chinchilla Rabbits,NZW Rabbits,New Zealand White Rabbits,Oryctolagus cuniculus,Chinchilla Rabbit,Domestic Rabbit,Domestic Rabbits,Hare, Belgian,NZW Rabbit,Rabbit, Chinchilla,Rabbit, NZW,Rabbit, New Zealand,Rabbits, Chinchilla,Rabbits, Domestic,Rabbits, NZW,Rabbits, New Zealand,Zealand Rabbit, New,Zealand Rabbits, New,cuniculus, Oryctolagus
D001794 Blood Pressure PRESSURE of the BLOOD on the ARTERIES and other BLOOD VESSELS. Systolic Pressure,Diastolic Pressure,Pulse Pressure,Pressure, Blood,Pressure, Diastolic,Pressure, Pulse,Pressure, Systolic,Pressures, Systolic
D001921 Brain The part of CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM that is contained within the skull (CRANIUM). Arising from the NEURAL TUBE, the embryonic brain is comprised of three major parts including PROSENCEPHALON (the forebrain); MESENCEPHALON (the midbrain); and RHOMBENCEPHALON (the hindbrain). The developed brain consists of CEREBRUM; CEREBELLUM; and other structures in the BRAIN STEM. Encephalon
D003000 Clonidine An imidazoline sympatholytic agent that stimulates ALPHA-2 ADRENERGIC RECEPTORS and central IMIDAZOLINE RECEPTORS. It is commonly used in the management of HYPERTENSION. Catapres,Catapresan,Catapressan,Chlophazolin,Clofelin,Clofenil,Clonidine Dihydrochloride,Clonidine Hydrochloride,Clonidine Monohydrobromide,Clonidine Monohydrochloride,Clopheline,Dixarit,Gemiton,Hemiton,Isoglaucon,Klofelin,Klofenil,M-5041T,ST-155,Dihydrochloride, Clonidine,Hydrochloride, Clonidine,M 5041T,M5041T,Monohydrobromide, Clonidine,Monohydrochloride, Clonidine,ST 155,ST155
D004298 Dopamine One of the catecholamine NEUROTRANSMITTERS in the brain. It is derived from TYROSINE and is the precursor to NOREPINEPHRINE and EPINEPHRINE. Dopamine is a major transmitter in the extrapyramidal system of the brain, and important in regulating movement. A family of receptors (RECEPTORS, DOPAMINE) mediate its action. Hydroxytyramine,3,4-Dihydroxyphenethylamine,4-(2-Aminoethyl)-1,2-benzenediol,Dopamine Hydrochloride,Intropin,3,4 Dihydroxyphenethylamine,Hydrochloride, Dopamine
D005260 Female Females

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