Neurochemical and behavioral effects of clonidine and related imidazolines: interaction with alpha-adrenoceptors.
Clonidine and other imidazolines, including phentolamine, inhibited the norepinephrine-elicited accumulation of cyclic AMP in brain slices via blockade or postsynpatic alpha-adrenoceptors. Clonidine (0.0125--0.050 mg/kg, i.p.) antagonized the increase in locomotor activity induced by amphetamine in a dose-dependent manner. It is suggested that the common ability of clonidine and phentolamine to antagonize norepinephrine-stimulated accumulation of cyclic AMP provides a possible explanation for the similar behavioral effects of these compounds, including their antagonism of the locomotor effects of amphetamine.
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000187:drug effects*; D003000:Clonidine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000032:analysis; D003913:Dextroamphetamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004347:Drug Interactions; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011941:Receptors, Adrenergic / Q000187:drug effects*; D011942:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha / Q000187:drug effects*
D007093:Imidazoles; D011941:Receptors, Adrenergic; D011942:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D003000:Clonidine; D003913:Dextroamphetamine; D009638:Norepinephrine