Alpha1 and alpha2 adrenoceptor mediated melanosome aggregatory responses in vitro in Oreochromis mossambica (Peters) melanophores.

Effects of specific and non-specific adrenoceptor agonists and antagonists were examined on the isolated scale melanophores of O. mossambica in physiological Ringer solution. The responses were recorded as melanophore size index. It was observed that adrenaline, nor-adrenaline, phenylpropanolamine, clonidine and phenylepherine induced melanosome aggregation in a dose-dependent manner. Denervation of the fish melanophores increased the sensitivity of the melanophores to adrenaline but not to nor-adrenaline. Phentolamine (3.55 x 10(-5) M), prazosin (2.38 x 10(-5) M) and yohimbine (2.821 x 10(-5) M) significantly inhibited the aggregatory responses of the fish melanophores to adrenaline, nor-adrenaline, clonidine and phenylepherine. The blocking effect of yohimbine was significantly higher than that of prazosin. It is concluded that the effect of adrenaline is directly mediated through the receptors and alpha2 adrenoceptors are predominantly involved in the aggregatory responses of this fish melanophores, while alpha1 adrenoceptors presence has been indicated.

Role of peripheral alpha2 adrenergic receptors in tonic pain during different stages of estrous cycle in rats

Estrogen and progesterone are supposed to modify pain sensitivity. However, the actual role of each of these steroid hormones in this respect is not well known. Plasma concentrations of these hormones show variation during estrous cycle. The role of alpha2 receptors in tonic pain has been pointed out. The aim of the present study was to investigate the agonist and antagonist effect of alpha2 adrenergic receptors on tonic pain sensitivity during all stages of estrous cycle in female rats. Xylasine as alpha 2 agonist and yohimbin as alpha 2 antagonist were used via intraperitoneal route [IP]. Adult rats weighing 180-200 grams were used. Animals were maintained on 12h reverse light/dark cycle for 7 days prior to the experiment. Water and food was available ad libitum. Formalin test was performed by subcutaneous injection of 50 micro l formalin [2.5%] solution into the hind paw. Formalin test was performed in all stages of estrous cycle for 60 minutes. Animals were divided into four groups; 1- control group [intact animal], 2- Sham group [animals received 0.2 ml normal saline by IP route], 3- Agonist groups [animals received 0.2 ml xylasine 1, 3 mg/kg body weight by IP route] and 4- Antagonist group [animals received 0.2 ml yohimbine 1, 3 mg/kg body weight by IP route]. Data were statistically analyzed using 2 way ANOVA test followed by Tukey's test as posthoc test. P < 0.05 was considered significant. Results showed that xylasine significantly [p < 0.05] decreases pain sensitivity in all stages of estrous cycle. Analgesic effect of xylasine was maximum in estrus stage of estrous cycle and minimum in metestrus stage of estrous cycle. Yohimbine significantly [p < 0.05] increases pain sensitivity in all stages of estrous cycle. Hyperalgesic effect of yohimbine was maximum in metestrus stage of estrous cycle and minimum in estrus stage of estrous cycle. These results indicate that alpha2 adrenergic system and endogenous steroids have an important role in pain sensitivity

Adrenergic involvement in the locus ceruleus and adjoining regions in the facilitation of predatory attack behavior as induced by hypothalamic stimulation in cats.

The present study was carried out in five cats which did not attack the rats spontaneously. Predatory attack on an anaesthetized rat was elicited by electrical stimulation of extreme lateral regions of hypothalamus. These sites were stimulated at a current strength from 300-700 microa to evoke a predatory attack on an anaesthetized rat. The attack was accompanied by minimal affective display such as alertness, pupillary dilatation, and culminated in beck biting at higher current strength. A scoring system allowed the construction of stimulus response curves, which remained fairly constant when repeated over a period of 3-4 weeks. Microinfusions of norepineprine and clonidine in 4.0 and 5.0 microg dose respectively in locus ceruleus and adjoining tegmental fields facilitated the predatory attack and there was a significant reduction in the threshold current strength for the elicitation of affective and somatomotor components. Microinfusions of yohimbine, an alpha-2 blocker, in 5 microg dose completely blocked the predatory attach response as indicated by an increase in the threshold current strength for the affective components. The somatomotor components were completely inhibited and could not be elicited even when the current strength was increased to 1000 microA. The predatory attack behavior remained completely inhibited for almost two hours following microinfusion of yohimbine. During this period, the animal was extremely drowsy and reacted very slowly even to a painful stimulus such as pinching of tail. Microinfusions of propranalol (beta-blocker), practalol (beta-1 blocker), prazosin (alpha-1 antagonist), propylene glycol as well as saline in similar volumes (0.5 microl) as control failed to produce any blocking effect, thus indicating the involvement of alpha-2 adrenoceptive mechanisms in the modulation of predatory attack in this region of midbrain. The facilitatory effects of norepinephrine and clonidine were significant at P<0.01 and P<0.05 respectively with Wilcoxon's signed rank test. The inhibitory effects of yohimbine were significant at P<0.05. The present study indicates the involvement of alpha-2 adrenoceptive mechanisms in the facilitation of hypothalamically elicited predatory attack.

Efecto de antagonistas de los receptores de angiotensina II y alfa2 adrenérgicos sobre la liberación de óxido nítrico inducida por angiotensina II / Effect of angiotensin II and alpha2 adrenergic receptor antagonists on angiotensin II-stimulated nitric oxide release

El objetivo del presente trabajo fue caracterizar la interacción entre el sistema adrenérgico y la liberación de óxido nítrico (ON) estimulada por angiotensina II en aorta de conejo. Anillos de aorta torácica se colocaron en un baño de órgano aislado. Se equilibró durante 30 min, se lavó y se agregó angiotensina II a diferentes dosis, dejándose actuar 20 min. En otro grupo se efectuaron dos estimulaciones con un intervalo de 60 min. Los antagonistas de angiotensina II: losartan, PD 123319 y Sar1-Leu8-angiotensina II; y el antagonista a2 adrenérgico (yohimbina), todos 10-5 M, y L-NAME o D-NAME 10-2 M, se agregaron antes de estimular con angiotensina II 10-6 M o 5.10-6 M. A otro grupo, además de losartan o PD 123319, se agregó yohimbina. La determinación de nitritos se realizó con el reactivo de Griess. La angiotensina II 10-8 M hasta 10-6 M, incrementó la producción de metabolitos de ON medidos como nitritos con respecto al control. A dosis mayores hubo una disminución con respecto a 10-6 M La liberación de nitritos inducida por angiotensina II cayó en la segunda estimulación con la hormona en todos los casos, mientras el L-NAME la bloqueó. Los antagonistas de angiotensina II la incrementaron sólo a dosis máxima de la hormona, efecto anulado por yohimbina. Asimismo, yohimbina disminuyó la producción de nitritos a dosis de angiotensina II 5.10-6 M pero no 10-6 M. Estos resultados permiten postular que la liberación de ON inducida por angiotensina II sería en parte mediada por estimulación de receptores a2. Los antagonistas de angiotensina II desenmascararían este efecto a dosis máxima de la hormona, mientras que a dosis supramáximas prevalecerían mecanismos inhibitorios que serían compensados por activación a2

Antagonism of clonidine injected intracerebroventricularly in different models of salt intake

Clonidine, and alpha2-adrenergic agonist, injected into the brain inhibits salt intake of animals treated by the diuretic model of sodium depletion. In the present study, we address the question of whether central injection of clonidine also inhibits salt intake in animals deprived of water or in the need-free state. Saline or clonidine (30 nmol) was injected into the anterior third ventricle of 24-h sodium-depleted (furosemide + removal of ambient sodium), of 24-h water-deprived and of normovolemic (need-free state) adult male rats. Clonidine injected intracerebroventricularly (icv) inhibited the 1.5 per cent NaCl intake for 120 min by 50 to 90 per cent in every model tested. Therefore, different models of salt intake are inhibited by icv injection of clonidine. Idazoxan, an alpha2-adrenergic antagonist, injected icv at a dose of 160 nmol, inhibited the effect of clonidine only in the furosemide + removal of ambient sodium model of salt intake. This indicates that the antagonism of this effect by idazoxan is dependent on the body fluid/sodium status of the animal.