Abstract

The urinary excretion rates of noradrenaline and adrenaline--as an index of sympatho-adrenal activity--were assessed in a group of rats previously treated with the noradrenergic toxic agent DSP-4. The suppressive effects of clonidine (10 micrograms/kg) on urinary NA excretion were also evaluated. Basal noradrenaline and adrenaline excretion rates were higher in DSP-4 treated rats than in controls. Clonidine elicited a marked suppression of urinary noradrenaline excretion rates in control rats but not in those treated with DSP-4 90-120 days before. Endogenous catecholamine level determinations, 120 days after DSP-4 administration, evidenced, on the one hand, an almost complete depletion of noradrenaline levels in spinal cord, cerebral cortex, and hippocampus. On the other hand, a significant increase of noradrenaline in the kidney and of adrenaline in the adrenal gland was found. These results are interpreted as indicating that the lesion of central noradrenergic pathways induces a sympatho-adrenal hyperactivity as well as an impaired response to alpha-2 adrenergic receptor agonists.

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.