title: Effects of clonidine, yohimbine and eserine on the quantified EEG of rats.
abstract: The effects of three different classes of drugs were analyzed on the EEG of rats on two cortical derivations (parieto-occipital and fronto-occipital) and one deep structure, the locus coeruleus. Clonidine, an alpha 2-agonist (0, 0.10, 0.30 and 0.50 mg/kg, i.p.), yohimbine, an alpha 2-antagonist (0, 2, 4 and 8 mg/kg, i.p.) and eserine, an anticholinesterase (0, 0.10, 0.30 and 0.50 mg/kg, i.p.), affected the EEG in different significant ways. Clonidine significantly decreased frequency in the theta-band (3.7-7.5 Hz) and increased it in the alpha-band (7.6-13.5 Hz). A general significant increase in power was also observed. For yohimbine, there was a significant dose-dependent increase of power, particularly in the theta-, alpha- and beta-bandwidth. Moreover, its effects on EEG varied in accordance to the derivations analyzed. Finally, eserine significantly decreased power in the high frequency bandwidths. A synchronization, as a function of dose, with a peak at 5-6 Hz was observed shortly after its administration. The results are discussed in terms of the potentiality of the technique of quantitative pharmaco-electro-encephalography and drug interaction studies in the analysis of psychoactive substances.
authors.affiliation: University of Liège, Laboratory of Pharmacology, Sart Tilman, Belgium.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Emilien
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003000:Clonidine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted; D004569:Electroencephalography; D008297:Male; D010830:Physostigmine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D015016:Yohimbine / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D015016:Yohimbine; D010830:Physostigmine; D003000:Clonidine