title: Effect of alpha-adrenoceptor blockade on sleep and wakefulness in the rat.
abstract: Three alpha-adrenoceptor antagonists with different subtype selectivity were administered IP at the beginning of the light period of the illumination cycle to rats whose sleep-wake pattern was subsequently recorded for 12 hours. Yohimbine (1 mg/kg) initially increased active wakefulness but did not affect REM sleep. Phentolamine (10 mg/kg) and prazosin (0.5 and 1.0 mg/kg) increased the amount of REM sleep during the latter half of the light period. The mechanism of this delayed increase in REM sleep may be related to a greater extent of alpha-receptor binding as well as an optimal, moderate concentration of prazosin and phentolamine in the brain during the latter half of the light period.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Mäkelä
authors.forename: I T
authors.initials: IT
authors.lastname: Hilakivi
mesh_terms: D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D004569:Electroencephalography; D008297:Male; D010646:Phentolamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D011224:Prazosin / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects*; D012895:Sleep, REM / Q000187:drug effects; D014851:Wakefulness / Q000187:drug effects*; D015016:Yohimbine / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; D015016:Yohimbine; D011224:Prazosin; D010646:Phentolamine