Skip to main content
Log in

Prazosin selectively antagonizes neuronal responses mediated by α1-adrenoceptors in brain

  • Short Communication
  • Published:
Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Archives of Pharmacology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

The ability of systemically and locally administered prazosin to block α1-adrenoceptors was examined in two brain areas in the rat. Using single unit recording of neurons in the lateral geniculate and dorsal raphe nuclei, evidence was obtained for the selective blockade of α1-adrenoceptors by both intravenous and iontophoretic prazosin. Since effective systemic doses of prazosin were within the clinical range, it appears likely that brain α1-adrenoceptors would be blocked during prazosin therapy in humans.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

References

  • Anden N-E, Gomes C, Persson B, Trolin G (1978) R 28935 and prazosin: effects on central and peripheral alpha-adrenoceptor activity and on blood pressure. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Arch Pharmacol 302:299–306

    Google Scholar 

  • Baraban JM, Aghajanian GK (1980) Suppression of firing activity of 5-HT neurons in the dorsal raphe by alpha-adrenoceptor antagonists. Neuropharmacology 19:355–363

    Google Scholar 

  • Baraban JM, Wang RY, Aghajanian GK (1978) Reserpine suppression of dorsal raphe neuronal firing: mediation by adrenergic system. Eur J Pharmacol 52:27–36

    Google Scholar 

  • Cavero I, Roach AG (1980) The pharmacology of prazosin, a novel antihypertensive agent. Life Sci 27:1525–1540

    Google Scholar 

  • Graham RM, Pettinger WA (1979) Drug Therapy: Prazosin. New England J Med 300:232–236

    Google Scholar 

  • Greengrass P, Bremner R (1979) Binding characteristics of 3H-prazosin to rat brain α-adrenergic receptors. Eur J Pharmacol 55:323–326

    Google Scholar 

  • Haigler HJ, Aghajanian GK (1974) Lysergic aicd diethylamide and serotonin: a comparison of effects on serotonergic neurons and neurons receiving a serotonergic input. J Pharmacol Exp Therapeut 188:688–699

    Google Scholar 

  • Hornung R, Presek P, Glossmann H (1979) Alpha adrenoceptors in rat brain: direct identification with prazosin. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Arch Pharmacol 308:223–230

    Google Scholar 

  • Karlberg BE, Thulin T, Fagerberg SE, Schersten B, Tolagen K, Vikesdal O, Malmberg L (1979) Effects of prazosin on plasma renin activity and blood pressure. J Clin Pharmacol 19:357–365

    Google Scholar 

  • Langer SZ, Cavero I, Massingham R (1980) Recent developments in noradrenergic neurotransmission and its relevance to the mechanism of action of certain antihypertensive agents. Hypertension 2:372–382

    Google Scholar 

  • Marwaha J, Aghajanian GK (1981) Relative potencies of antagonists at α2-adrenoceptors of the locus coeruleus and α1-adrenoceptors of the lateral geniculate nucleus. Soc Neurosci Abstr 7: (in press)

  • McCall RB, Humphrey SJ (1981) Evidence for a central depressor action of postsynaptic α1-adrenergic receptor antagonists. J Autonom Nerv Sys 3:9–24

    Google Scholar 

  • Miach PJ, Dausse JP, Cardot A, Meyer P (1980) 3H-prazosin binds specifically to α1-adrenoceptors in rat brain. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Arch Pharmacol 312:23–26

    Google Scholar 

  • Roach AG, Gomeni R, Mitchard M, Nicolas JP, Cavero I (1978) The blood pressure lowering effects of intravenous versus intracerebroventricular prazosin in anesthetized cats. Eur J Pharmacol 49: 271–278

    Google Scholar 

  • Rogawski MA, Aghajanian GK (1980) Activation of lateral geniculate neurons by norepinephrine: mediation by an α-adrenergic receptor. Brain Res 182:345–359

    Google Scholar 

  • Rogawski MA, Aghajanian GK (1981) Activation of lateral geniculate neurons by noradrenergic pathway stimulation: selective blockade by the α1-adrenoceptors antagonist prazosin. Soc Neurosci Abstr 7: (in press)

  • Taylor JA, Twomey TM, Schach VonWittenau M (1977) The metabolic fate of prazosin. Xenobiotica 7:357–364

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Menkes, D.B., Baraban, J.M. & Aghajanian, G.K. Prazosin selectively antagonizes neuronal responses mediated by α1-adrenoceptors in brain. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Arch. Pharmacol. 317, 273–275 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00503830

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00503830

Key words

Navigation