Mediation of separation distress by alpha 2-adrenergic mechanisms in a non-human primate.
This study provides the first behavioral evidence in support of an alpha-adrenergic mechanism underlying imipramine's amelioration of separation distress. The rate of separation-induced vocalization by adult squirrel monkeys was decreased by imipramine and the alpha 2-adrenergic agonist clonidine, and increased by the alpha 2-adrenergic antagonist yohimbine. Yohimbine, but not the alpha 1-antagonist prazosin, reversed the clonidine effect suggesting that drugs acting directly on alpha 2-receptors may have a role in management of separation anxiety.
D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001010:Anxiety, Separation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003000:Clonidine / Q000494:pharmacology; D007099:Imipramine / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D011224:Prazosin / Q000494:pharmacology; D011942:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D012453:Saimiri / Q000502:physiology; D014828:Vocalization, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D015016:Yohimbine / Q000494:pharmacology
D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D011942:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha; D015016:Yohimbine; D003000:Clonidine; D007099:Imipramine; D011224:Prazosin