title: Clonidine produces mydriasis in conscious mice by activating central alpha 2-adrenoceptors.
abstract: Intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of the alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonist clonidine (1-3000 micrograms/kg) produced dose-dependent pupil dilatation in conscious C57/Bl/6 mice with an ED50 of 54 micrograms/kg (95% confidence limits 40-74 micrograms/kg). This response was rapid in onset and of approximately 30 min duration. The alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonists idazoxan (1 or 3 mg/kg i.p.) and yohimbine (1 or 3 mg/kg i.p.) both produced dose-related miosis, but the alpha 1- and beta-adrenoceptor antagonists prazosin (1 or 3 mg/kg i.p.) and pindolol (1 or 3 mg/kg i.p.) were without effect. These doses of idazoxan and yohimbine potently reversed the mydriasis induced by clonidine (100 micrograms/kg i.p.), while prazosin and pindolol were again ineffective. Clonidine-induced mydriasis was also unaltered by the 5-HT antagonists, methysergide (2.5 mg/kg i.p.) and ketanserin (0.1 mg/kg i.p.) or 0.1 mg/kg i.p. of the dopamine antagonists, haloperidol, SCH 23390 and BRL 34778. A dose of 0.25 microgram clonidine, which was ineffective when administered i.p., produced marked mydriasis after intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection. In addition, the mydriasis produced by i.p. injection of clonidine (100 micrograms/kg) was abolished by i.c.v. dosing of 2.5 micrograms idazoxan or yohimbine, but again not by prazosin or pindolol. Together, these data provide strong evidence to indicate that clonidine-induced mydriasis is exclusively mediated via central alpha 2-adrenoceptors and that this response provides a useful model for studying the function of these receptors.
authors.affiliation: Research Department, Boots Company, Nottingham, U.K.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Heal
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Prow
authors.forename: W R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Buckett
mesh_terms: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D003000:Clonidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular; D008297:Male; D008734:Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009184:Mydriatics; D011680:Pupil / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists; D009184:Mydriatics; D008734:Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol; D003000:Clonidine