Buspirone increases locus coeruleus noradrenergic neuronal activity in vitro.
Buspirone, a non-benzodiazepine anxiolytic agent, produced dose-dependent increases in the activity of norepinephrine-containing locus coeruleus neurons recorded from mouse brain slices in vitro. The response was not changed in a low calcium/high magnesium incubation medium, indicating that the observed effects were the result of a direct action of buspirone on locus coeruleus neurons. These data suggest that noradrenergic neurons may not be as important in mediating anxiety states as previously suggested.
D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D002065:Buspirone; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008125:Locus Coeruleus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000502:physiology*; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000494:pharmacology*
D011743:Pyrimidines; D002065:Buspirone; D009638:Norepinephrine