title: [Effect of non-selective alpha-adrenergic receptor antagonist nicergoline on the activity of neurons in the ventral lateral thalamic nucleus].
abstract: In experiments on rats microionophoretic administration of nicergoline mainly showed the dual effect on the background activity of the ventrolateral thalamic nucleus (VL) neurons and their reactions evoked by the superior cerebellum peduncle stimulation: inhibitory under weak (2-10 nA) and excitatory under stronger (20-40 nA) currents. Microionophoresis (25 nA) of nicergoline led to decrease of the postexcitatory inhibitory processes during paired stimulation of the cerebellum fibers. Paired-pulse ratio (number of spikes in the short-latency neuronal responses elicited by the second pulse/number of spikes by the first pulse) increased, which support a presynaptic mode of drug action. Hence excitatory effect of nicergoline may be related to the blockade of the presynaptic alpha2-receptors, while inhibitory effect by the blockade of the postsynaptic alphal-receptors. Present data reveal the essential participation of the alpha-adrenoreceptor system in the modulation of background and evoked neuronal activity of the motor thalamus. The possible role of noradrenergic denervation in the development of movement disorders accompanying Parkinson's disease is discussed.
authors.forename: O P
authors.initials: OP
authors.lastname: Lukhanina
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Pil'kevych
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D007478:Iontophoresis; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D009530:Nicergoline / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D020651:Ventral Thalamic Nuclei / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; D009530:Nicergoline