title: Effect of an alpha(1)-adrenergic blocker on plasticity elicited by motor training.
abstract: Recovery of motor function elicited by motor training after cortical lesions in rats is enhanced by norepinephrine (neurotransmitter mediating alpha(1)-adrenergic function) and downregulated by alpha(1)-adrenergic antagonists. In spite of this, alpha(1)-adrenergic antagonists are used to treat elderly patients with hypertension and prostate hyperplasia in stroke settings. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a single oral dose of the alpha(1)-adrenergic antagonist prazosin on training-dependent plasticity in intact humans, a function thought to contribute to recovery of motor function after cortical lesions. We report that prazosin decreased the ability of motor training to elicit training-dependent plasticity relative to a drug-free condition. These data suggest caution when using alpha(1)-adrenergic blockers in rehabilitative clinical settings following brain lesions.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sawaki
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Werhahn
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Barco
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kopylev
authors.forename: L G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Cohen
mesh_terms: D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D019054:Evoked Potentials, Motor / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008280:Magnetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D011224:Prazosin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011433:Propranolol / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D011433:Propranolol; D011224:Prazosin