Hypophysectomy alters both 5-hydroxytryptamine- and alpha 2-adrenoceptor-mediated behavioural changes in the rat.
Hypophysectomy, but not sham-hypophysectomy, reduced tranylcypromine/L-tryptophan hyperactivity when compared with unoperated controls although brain 5-hydroxytryptamine concentrations were not different. Hypophysectomy also reduced quipazine locomotor activity but did not alter spontaneous locomotion. Hypophysectomy potentiated clonidine hypoactivity but did not itself produce sedation. Furthermore, noradrenaline concentrations were not altered in either hypothalamus or nucleus accumbens. This suggests that pituitary function is necessary for the normal manifestation of behaviours mediated by postsynaptic 5-hydroxytryptamine receptors and presynaptic alpha 2-adrenoceptors.
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D003000:Clonidine / Q000494:pharmacology; D007016:Hypophysectomy; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D011814:Quipazine / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011941:Receptors, Adrenergic / Q000502:physiology*; D011942:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha / Q000502:physiology*; D012701:Serotonin / Q000502:physiology*; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000494:pharmacology
D011941:Receptors, Adrenergic; D011942:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha; D012701:Serotonin; D011814:Quipazine; D014364:Tryptophan; D003000:Clonidine