Mechanisms of the angiotensin II effects on the exploratory behavior of rats in open field. II. Interaction of angiotensin II with yohimbine.
The effects of the octapeptide angiotensin II (AT II) and its interaction with yohimbine, an alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonist, on the exploratory behavior of male rats in open field were studied. AT II (0.1 and 0.5 microgram intracerebroventricularly, i.c.v) increased the open field behavior, mainly ambulation and rearing. Yohimbine (1 and 3 mg/kg) significantly reduced the stimulatory effects of AT II, mainly on ambulation. It is suggested that the augmented release of noradrenaline (NA) resulting from alpha 2-adrenoceptor blockade decreases the exploratory behavior effects of AT II. An interaction between AT II receptors and NA-ergic neurotransmission in the brain might be taken into consideration as an explanation of the influence of yohimbine on AT II effects in open field behavior.
Georgiev
V
V
Department of Experimental Pharmacology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia.
Opitz
M
M
D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D004347:Drug Interactions; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D006120:Grooming / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D015016:Yohimbine / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000804:Angiotensin II; D015016:Yohimbine