title: Biochemical and radiohistochemical analyses of alpha-2 adrenergic receptors in the kindling model of epilepsy.
abstract: Biochemical and radiohistochemical methods were used to study alterations in alpha-2 adrenergic receptors in the kindling model of epilepsy. The radioligands used for antagonist and agonist binding were [3H]idazoxan and [3H]p-aminoclonidine, respectively. Radioligand binding to membranes isolated from eight brain regions disclosed a small (14%) but statistically significant reduction in [3H]idazoxan binding in a single area, amygdala-pyriform-entorhinal cortex. This was confirmed by a larger (25%) reduction (P less than .02) in agonist binding in the same region. These reductions were present in animals sacrificed 1 day, but not 2 weeks, after the last kindled seizure. Quantitative radiohistochemical studies identified a bilaterally symmetric reduction of approximately 20% of [3H]p-aminoclonidine binding in the pyriform cortex and the central, medial and lateral amygdaloid nuclei. No significant differences were detected in nine other structures. We propose that the reduction in alpha-2 receptor binding contributes in part to the reduced sensitivity of pyriform cortex neurons of kindled animals to the inhibitory effects of alpha 2 agonists. The reduced alpha-2-receptor binding may also underlie a transient attenuation of alpha-2 receptor-mediated neuro-transmission and thereby constitute one mechanism contributing to kindling development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina.
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Weingart
authors.forename: J O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: McNamara
mesh_terms: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000378:metabolism; D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001345:Autoradiography; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D003000:Clonidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism; D004146:Dioxanes / Q000378:metabolism; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000378:metabolism*; D019329:Idazoxan; D007696:Kindling, Neurologic / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008959:Models, Neurological; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011942:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; D004146:Dioxanes; D011942:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha; C016986:apraclonidine; D003000:Clonidine; D019329:Idazoxan