Stress and beta-adrenergic receptor binding in the rat's brain.
The effect of acute and chronic electric shocks on beta-adrenergic receptor binding in the rat's brain was investigated. Beta-adrenergic receptor subsensitivity in the cortex was induced by chronic shocks, but not by acute shocks. This reduction appears to be due to a decreased number of receptors. It seems that stress, by increasing intrasynaptic norepinephrine levels resulting from an accelerated turnover rate, causes beta-adrenergic receptor subsensitivity.
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D004082:Dihydroalprenolol / Q000378:metabolism; D004597:Electroshock; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011941:Receptors, Adrenergic / Q000378:metabolism*; D011942:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha / Q000378:metabolism*; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000378:metabolism*
D011941:Receptors, Adrenergic; D011942:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha; D004082:Dihydroalprenolol