Effect of DSP-4, a noradrenergic neurotoxin, on sleep and wakefulness and sensitivity to drugs acting on adrenergic receptors in the rat.
DSP-4, a neurotoxin which produces a marked and long-lasting depletion of norepinephrine (NE) in the central nervous system, was given in a dose of 50 mg/kg by i.p. route to rats prepared for chronic sleep recordings. Light sleep was significantly increased and REM sleep decreased during the first 2 days following DSP-4. Thereafter, REM sleep showed a consistent increase which attained significance on days 5 and 6 postinjection, thus indicating a permissive role for NE on this behavioral state. We examined also whether pretreatment with DSP-4 would modify the effects of clonidine, yohimbine, methoxamine, or clenbuterol on sleep and wakefulness. The sensitivity to alpha 2-agents, methoxamine, and clenbuterol was respectively slightly increased or unchanged, decreased, and clearly increased after DSP-4.
Monti
J M
JM
Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, School of Medicine, Clinics Hospital, Montevideo, Uruguay.
D'Angelo
L
L
Jantos
H
H
Barbeito
L
L
Abó
V
V
D000818:Animals; D001596:Benzylamines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects*; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000187:drug effects; D002976:Clenbuterol / Q000494:pharmacology; D003000:Clonidine / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008729:Methoxamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D009498:Neurotoxins; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011941:Receptors, Adrenergic / Q000187:drug effects*; D012894:Sleep Stages / Q000187:drug effects*; D012895:Sleep, REM / Q000187:drug effects; D014851:Wakefulness / Q000187:drug effects*; D015016:Yohimbine / Q000494:pharmacology
D001596:Benzylamines; D009498:Neurotoxins; D011941:Receptors, Adrenergic; D015016:Yohimbine; D008729:Methoxamine; D003000:Clonidine; C012102:DSP 4; D002976:Clenbuterol