title: Acute and chronic effects of methylphenidate on cortical adrenoceptors in the rat.
abstract: The effects of acute and chronic treatments with methylphenidate were examined on cortical adrenoceptors. A single dose of methylphenidate increased the affinity of [3H]prazosin and [3H]idazoxan binding sites. Acute and chronic methylphenidate treatments caused a down-regulation of alpha 1-adrenoceptors. There were no changes in cortical beta-adrenoceptors measured with [3H]dihydroalprenolol nor in endogenous monoamine levels. The alterations in alpha-adrenoceptors can be attributed to an indirect action of methylphenidate possibly through an accrued release of noradrenaline or tyramine.
authors.affiliation: Département de Physiologie, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Montreal, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Mathieu
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferron
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Dewar
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Reader
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015306:Biogenic Monoamines / Q000378:metabolism; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000378:metabolism; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008774:Methylphenidate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011224:Prazosin / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011941:Receptors, Adrenergic / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D015306:Biogenic Monoamines; D002395:Catecholamines; D011941:Receptors, Adrenergic; D008774:Methylphenidate; D011224:Prazosin