Barbiturate dependence in mice: evidence for beta-adrenergic receptor proliferation in brain.
C57BL/6J and DBA/2J inbred mice were assayed for beta-adrenergic receptor density following seven days of chronic phenobarbital intoxication. These physically dependent mice showed a greater brain receptor density than did the control, while acute intoxication to phenobarbital produced no significant effects. C57BL/6J mice showed a higher average receptor density than did the DBA/2J mice under all conditions. These findings support the hypothesis that chronic barbiturate intoxication leads to a receptor supersensitivity which may play a role in the phenomena of functional tolerance and physical dependence.
D000526:Alprenolol; D000818:Animals; D001463:Barbiturates; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D010634:Phenobarbital; D011433:Propranolol; D011941:Receptors, Adrenergic / Q000378:metabolism*; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta / Q000378:metabolism*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000378:metabolism*
D001463:Barbiturates; D011941:Receptors, Adrenergic; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta; D000526:Alprenolol; D011433:Propranolol; D010634:Phenobarbital