Chapter 16 - Potentiation of β-Amyloid-Induced Cortical Inflammation by Noradrenaline and Noradrenergic Depletion: Implications for Alzheimer’s Disease

Abstract

The endogenous neurotransmitter noradrenaline (NA) exerts antiinflammatory, neurotrophic, neurogenic, and neuroprotective effects. Although binding to and activation of adrenergic receptors (ARs) on neurons accounts for many of these actions, ARs on glial cells also provide a target for its numerous and diverse effects. Under disease or damaging conditions, the levels of NA or of ARs can be reduced or functionally deficient, leading to dysregulation of homeostasis. In this chapter, we review these systems and describe recent pharmacological approaches to directly modulate them in neurological diseases and conditions.