title: Beta 2-adrenoceptor antagonists intensify clonidine withdrawal syndrome in conscious rats.
abstract: Sudden cessation of prolonged treatment with clonidine in conscious rats evokes a cardiovascular withdrawal syndrome, characterized by severe tachycardia and brief blood pressure (BP) increases, so-called "upswings." Previously, adenylate cyclase-coupled alpha 2-adrenoceptors were shown to be involved in this phenomenon. In the present study, the effect on the intensity of clonidine withdrawal symptoms of concomitant treatment with various beta-adrenoceptor antagonists during clonidine infusion (100 micrograms/kg/24 h, 7 days) was investigated. Propranolol (18 mg/kg/24 h, beta 1 and beta 2 blocker) and ICI 118.551 (12 mg/kg/24 h, beta 2 blocker) clearly aggravated the withdrawal symptoms, whereas metoprolol (18 mg/kg/24 h, beta 1 blocker) did not affect the severity of the withdrawal syndrome. Accordingly, intensification of the withdrawal syndrome appears to be mediated by beta 2- rather than by beta 1-adrenoceptors. These results point to an interaction at the level of the second-messenger adenylate cyclase (AC) system in development of clonidine withdrawal syndrome.
authors: Division of Pharmacotherapy, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: F A
authors: FA
authors: Jonkman
authors: P W
authors: PW
authors: Man
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Breurkes
authors: P A
authors: PA
authors: van Zwieten
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D003000:Clonidine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003655:Decerebrate State; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D003000:Clonidine