Canine narcolepsy is associated with an elevated number of alpha 2-receptors in the locus coeruleus.
alpha 2-Receptors in the canine brain were pharmacologically characterized using [3H]yohimbine binding. Competition studies revealed a single class of binding sites in frontal cortex but two distinct subtypes in nucleus caudatus. The role of central alpha 2-receptors in narcolepsy was investigated in 5 normal and 5 narcoleptic Doberman pinschers. Scatchard analysis of [3H]yohimbine binding in different brain areas revealed an increase in the number of alpha 2-binding sites limited to the locus coeruleus. This suggests that altered autoinhibition of norepinephrine release may be associated with the narcoleptic symptomatology.
Fruhstorfer
B
B
Sleep Research Center, Stanford School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA 94304.
Mignot
E
E
Bowersox
S
S
Nishino
S
S
Dement
W C
WC
Guilleminault
C
C
D000818:Animals; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D008125:Locus Coeruleus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D009290:Narcolepsy / Q000378:metabolism*; D011942:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D015016:Yohimbine / Q000378:metabolism
D011942:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha; D015016:Yohimbine