title: Alpha noradrenergic agonists promote catalepsy in the mouse.
abstract: Alpha adrenergic receptors are important in motor control. Adrenergic drugs reportedly modulate the catalepsy caused by other agents, such as opiates and neuroleptics. We tested a variety of adrenergic agonists and blockers in a nondrug, mouse model of catalepsy. A major cataleptic effect was produced by both alpha agonists, phenylephrine (0.5 to 3 mg/kg, IP) and clonidine (0.5 to 2 mg/kg), and this catalepsy was antagonized by pretreatment with both of the respective antagonists, phenoxybenzamine (alpha-1) and yohimbine (alpha-2) (p less than 0.0001). The mixed beta agonist, isoproterenol (2 mg/kg), appeared to have a minor cataleptic effect, and this was abolished by beta antagonist. Open-field locomotor scores during the same treatments revealed that catalepsy and hypokinesia are dissociable.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Anatomy, Texas A&M University, College Station 77843.
authors.forename: N C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Sukul
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cherian
authors.forename: W R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Klemm
mesh_terms: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002375:Catalepsy / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000517:prevention & control; D003000:Clonidine / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D007545:Isoproterenol / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D008954:Models, Biological; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D010643:Phenoxybenzamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D010656:Phenylephrine / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D013999:Timolol / Q000494:pharmacology; D015016:Yohimbine / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D010643:Phenoxybenzamine; D010656:Phenylephrine; D015016:Yohimbine; D013999:Timolol; D007545:Isoproterenol; D003000:Clonidine