The participation of medullary reticular formation in clonidine-induced hypotension in rats

The cardiovascular actions of clonidine and neuropeptide-Y in the ventrolateral medulla of the rat

1. The cardiovascular responses to neuropeptide-Y (NPY) (25 and 50 pmol) and clonidine (10 and 20 nmol) were examined following microinjection into the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) and the caudal ventrolateral medulla (CVLM). Mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) were measured in anaesthetized rats, pre- and post-injection. 2. The alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonist clonidine (10 and 20 nmol) reduced MAP and HR significantly when microinjected into the CVLM and RVLM. 3. NPY (25 and 50 pmol) microinjected into the CVLM decreased MAP and HR. However, in the RVLM neither dose had a significant cardiovascular effect. 4. The possibility of a functional interaction between the adrenergic system and NPY was examined by co-administration of clonidine and NPY in doses that gave submaximal blood pressure responses. In the CVLM this produced hypotension and bradycardia which was similar in magnitude to the sum of their individual responses, indicating that in this area their actions appear to be independent. 5. In the RVLM, where NPY has no significant cardiovascular effects, co-administration with clonidine, did not alter the response to clonidine. 6. It appears that in the areas investigated, there is no functional interaction between NPY and clonidine.

Clonidine challenge testing of alpha-2-adrenoceptor function in man: the effects of mental illness and psychotropic medication

The clonidine challenge test is a means of assessing alpha-2-adrenoceptor sen sitivity in man. We review studies which have used this test to investigate central alpha-2- adrenoceptor changes in psychiatric illness, and to determine receptor changes after adminis tration and withdrawal of psychotropic treatments. Patients with severe depression show evidence of reduced alpha-2-adrenoceptor sensitivity, especially a reduced growth hormone response to clonidine. This may delineate a subgroup of patients with severe depressive illness from those with milder depression, and may even provide a trait marker for some depressed patients. Patients with panic disorder show evidence of subsensitivity to some and supersensitivity to other clonidine-induced responses. Other disorders, although less well investigated, may have abnormal test responses which may provide additional information about their cause and treatment. Changes in response after drug treatment have provided important information on the mode of action of antidepressants, and have suggested that noradrenergic function is altered by a variety of different antidepressants.

Participation of nucleus reticularis gigantocellularis in guanabenz-promoted hypotension, decrease in cardiac contractility and bradycardia in rats

The possible participation of the nucleus reticularis gigantocellularis in the hypotension, decrease in cardiac contractility and bradycardia induced by guanabenz was examined in rats that were anesthetized with pentobarbital sodium (40 mg/kg, i.p.). Guanabenz (10 micrograms/kg, i.v.) elicited an initial, transient hypertension, accompanied by an increase in cardiac contractility, followed by a significant and sustained hypotension, as well as decrease in the force and rate of cardiac contraction. In rats receiving bilateral focal electrolytic lesions of the nucleus reticularis gigantocellularis, the same injection produced only the initial transient responses, without the subsequent depressant effects. Microinjection of guanabenz directly into the ventro-medial portion of the nucleus reticularis gigantocellularis, at an ineffective systemic concentration (500 ng), produced significant and prolonged reduction in arterial pressure, cardiac contractility and heart rhythm. On the other hand, local application of the same concentration (500 ng) of guanabenz into the lateral portion of the same nucleus produced only minor hypotension and bradycardia, with no decrease in cardiac contractility. It is concluded that the nucleus reticularis gigantocellularis is at least one of the central sites through which guanabenz may produce its cardiovascular suppressant effects.

Arterial pressure- and cardiac rhythm-related single-neuron activities in the nucleus reticularis gigantocellularis of the rat

This communication presents an analysis of 531 extracellularly recorded spontaneously active nucleus reticularis gigantocellularis (NRGC) single-neurons in pentobarbital anesthetized rats, with particular reference to their cardiovascular-related activities. Fifty-nine percent of the gigantocellular neurons evaluated had temporal relationship with induced or spontaneous arterial pressure fluctuations. Twenty-eight percent of the NRGC neurons manifested definite discharge patterns and periodicity with reference to the cardiac cycle. It is discussed that these gigantocellular neurons may serve as a primary component of the cardiovascular regulatory mechanism. Alternatively, they may coordinate the necessary circulatory support for activities varying from respiration to somatomotor functions or sleep-wakefulness.

The effects of ouabain in the medullary site of the hypotensive action of clonidine

Blood pressure was studied in pentobarbital anesthetized rats and cats after central administration of ouabain. Intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injections caused a classical biphasic effect, a short lasting hypotension followed by a hypertensive phase. When injected directly into the nucleus reticularis lateralis region (NRL), ouabain (0.01-2 micrograms/kg) caused a dose-dependent pressor effect. In the same region, kryptofix 221, a sodium complexing agent, produced a fall in blood pressure. Moreover, central administration of ouabain prevented the hypotensive effect of i.v. clonidine whereas the central hypotensive effect of muscimol was not affected. It is concluded that sodium movements play an important role in the blood pressure regulation within the NRL region. We also report here that ouabain antagonizes the hypotensive effect of clonidine suggesting that sodium movement might be the essential link of this action.

Effects on nociceptive threshold and blood pressure of intrathecally administered morphine and alpha-adrenergic agonists

In the present experiments, the time course of the analgesic response (tail flick in rats, skin twitch in cat) and blood pressure effects of intrathecally administered morphine and the alpha-agonists, clonidine and ST-91 were examined in rats and cats. The clonidine analogue, ST-91 has approximately 1/50 the lipid solubility of clonidine. Intrathecally administered morphine and morphine followed by naloxone had no effect on resting blood pressure in unanaesthetized cats and in rats and cats anaesthetized with chloralose-urethane. Inactive when given systemically, ST-91 had a powerful antinociceptive effect when given intrathecally. At analgesic doses, this alpha-agonist produced only a transient hypertension. At doses 4-6 times that required to produce a significant antinociceptive effect, a pressor effect was observed. Intrathecal injection of clonidine in smaller doses produced a transient hypotension, with significant pressor effects present with larger doses.

Morphine suppression of bradycardia induced by electrical stimulation of gigantocellular reticular nucleus in the cat

In chloralose-urethane-anesthetized cats, intravertebral injection of morphine (1,2 and 4 mg/kg) promoted a drastic suppression of the bradycardia elicited by stimulating the medullary gigantocelular reticular nucleus (GRN). The degree of blockadge of GRN-induced cardioinhibition was directly dependent upon the dose of morphine and inversely related to the reticular stimulus train intensity and pulse frequency. The possibility that the GRM may be a site of action for morphine in its production of hypotension and bradycardia was discussed.

The nucleus reticularis lateralis: a region highly sensitive to clonidine

Slow bilateral microinjections of a low dose of clonidine (75 ng/kg) in the cat's nucleus reticularis lateralis (NRL) lead to significant hypotension and bradycardia. This finding confirms the existence of a ventromedullary highly sensitive site of action of clonidine. It is suggested that clonidine inhibits some vasopressive and cardioacceleratory structures within the NRL region.

Growth hormone and other responses to clonidine in patients with endogenous depression

The growth hormone response to clonidine was significantly less in 10 drug-free patients with endogenous depression than in 10 normal subjects who were individually matched with the patients for age and sex. The hypotensive and sedative effects of clonidine in the two groups were similar. The findings may indicate a defect at central alpha adrenoceptors at least in neuro-endocrine systems.

Clonidine suppression of bradycardia induced by gigantocellular reticular nucleus in the cat

In chloralose-urethane-anesthetized cats, intravertebral injection of clonidine (0.5--4.0 micrograms/kg) elicited a drastic suppression of the bradycardia induced by stimulating the gigantocellular reticular nucleus (GRN). The degree of blockage of GRN-induced cardioinhibtion was related to the time course of the inherent cardiovascular effects of clonidine. It was also dependent upon the dose of the imidazoline compound and the intensity/train pulse frequency of reticular stimulation. It was suggested that the two mechanisms may interact with one another in the brainstem and possible modes of interaction were discussed.