Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Antagonism of Ethanol’s Central Stimulation by Catecholamine Receptor Agonists

  • Chapter
Biological Effects of Alcohol

Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AEMB,volume 126))

Abstract

The effect of ethanol (2 g/kg) on brain catecholamine neurons in the rat as well as its interaction with catecholamine receptor agonists was studied utilizing single unit recording techniques. Identified dopamine (DA) neurons of the zona compacta, substantia nigra as well as noradrenaline (NA) neurons of the locus coeruleus showed no alterations in firing rate at ethanol administration. Also the function of their presynaptic DA and NA receptors, respectively, appeared normal judging from the unaltered inhibitory response to systemically or microiontophoretically applied receptor agonists, apomorphine and Clonidine, respectively, when applied in small doses. In contrast, the catecholamine releasing agent amphetamine caused inhibition of firing of the central catecholamine neurons in the same anesthetized preparation. The rate of tyrosine hydroxylation in vivo in central DA and NA neurons measured as the amount of Dopa accumulated in various brain regions following inhibition of aromatic l-amino acid decarboxylase by NSD 1015, 150mg/kg i.p., was significantly increased by ethanol in anesthetized rats. Consequently, the present data do not support the hypothesis derived largely from behavioural evidence that ethanol causes inactivation of central DA and NA neurons. The antagonism by catecholamine receptor agonists, apomorphine and Clonidine of ethanol’s behaviourally stimulant action may thus be of unspecific character. The results indicate that alterations in tyrosine hydroxylase activity, when measured as Dopa formation after decarboxylase inhibition, can occur without concomitantly altered impulse activity in central DA or NA neurons. At present the action of ethanol on brain DA and NA neurons remains unclear and necessitates further studies.

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

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Aghajanian, G.K., Bunney, B.S. Central dopaminergic neurons: Neuro-physiological identification and responses to drugs. In E. Usdin and S.H. Snyder (Eds.) Frontiers in Catecholamine Research, pp. 643–648. New York, Pergamon Press, 1973.

    Google Scholar 

  • Aghajanian, O.K., Bunney, B.S. Dopamine “Autoreceptors”: Pharmacological characterisation by microiontophoretic single cell recording studies. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg’s Arch. Pharmacol., 297: 1–9 1977.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Aghajanian, G.K., Bunney, B.S., Kuhor, M.J. Use of single unit recording in correlating transmitter turnover with impulse flow in monoamine neurons. In A.J. Mandel I (Ed.) New Concepts in Neurotransmitter Regulation, pp. 115–134. New York, Plenum Publ. Corp.,1973.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Ahlenius, S., Corlsson, A., Engel, J., Svensson, T.H., Södersten, P. Antagonism by alpha methyl tyrosine of the ethanol-induced stimulation and euphoria in man. Clin. Pharmacol. Ther., 14: 586–591, 1973.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Andén, N.-E. Regulation of monoamine synthesis and utilization by receptors. In Handbook of experimental pharmacology, section “Systemic pharmacology of adrenergic activators and inhibitors/Central nervous system”. In press (1978).

    Google Scholar 

  • Andén, N.-E., Corrodi, H., Fuxe, K., Hökfelt, B., Hökfelt, T., Rydin, Svensson, T.H. Rvidence for a central noradrenaline receptor stimulation by Clonidine. Life Sci., 9: 513–523, 1970.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Andén, N.-E., Grabowska, M., Strömbom, U. Different alpha-adreno-receptors in the central nervous system mediating biochemical and functional effects of Clonidine and receptor blocking agents. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg’s Arch. Pharmacol. 292: 43–52, 1976.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Andén, N.-E., Magnussen, T., Stock, G. Effect of anesthetic agents on the synthesis and disappearance of brain dopamine normally and after haloperidol, KCl or axotomy. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg’s Arch. Pharmacol. 5 409–418, 1974.

    Google Scholar 

  • Andén, N.-E., Strömbom, U. Adrenergic receptor blocking agents: Effects on central noradrenaline and dopamine receptors and on motor activity. Psychopharmacologia (Berl.), 38: 91–103, 1974.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bacopoulos, N.G., Bhatnagar, R.K., Van Orden III, L.S. The effects of subhypnotic doses of ethanol on regional catecholamine turnover. J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 204:1–10, 1978.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bunney, B.S., Aghajanian, G.K. D-amphetamine-induced inhibition of central dopaminergic neurons: mediation by a striatonigral feedback pathway. Science 192: 391–393 (1976).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bunney, B.S., Aghajanian, G.K., Roth, R.H. L-dopa, amphetamine and apomorphine: Comparison of effects on firing rate of rat dopaminergic neurons. Nature 245: 123–125, 1973.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bunney, B.S., Walters, J.R., Kuhar, M.J., Roth, R.H., Aghajanian, G.K. D-and L-amphetamine stereoisomers: Comparative potencies in affecting the firing of central dopaminergic and noradrenergic neurons. Psychopharmacology. Communications 1: 177–190, 1975.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bunney, B.S., Walters, J.R., Roth, R.H., Aghajanian, G.K. Dopaminergic neurons: Effect of antipsychotic drugs and amphetamine on single cell activity. J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 185: 560–571, 1973.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Buckalew, L.W., Cartwright, G.M. General and differential behavioral effects of five ethanol dosages on the albino rat. Physiol. Rev. 23:1151–1154, 1968.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bustos, G., Roth, R.H. Effect of acute ethanol treatment on transmitter synthesis and metabolism in central dopaminergic neurons. J. Pharm. Pharmac. 28 580–582, 1976.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Carlsson, A. Receptor-mediated control of dopamine metabolism. In E. Usdin and W.E. Bunney (Eds.) Pre- and postsynaptic receptors, pp. 49–65. New York: Marcel Dekker, 1975.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carlsson, A., Davis, J.N., Kehr, W., Lindqvist, M., Atack, C.V. Simultaneous measurement of tyrosine and tryptophan hydroxylase activities in brain in vivo using an inhibitor of the aromatic amino acid decarboxylase. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg’s Arch. Pharmacol. 275: 153–168, 1972.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Carlsson, A., Engel, J., Strömbom, U., Svensson, T.H., Waldeck, B. Suppression by dopamine-agonisfrs of fhe ethanol-induced stimulation of locomotor activity and brain dopamine synthesis. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg’s Arch. Pharmacol. 283: 117–128, 1974.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carlsson, A., Engel, J., Svensson, T.H. Inhibition of ethanol-induced excitation in mice and rats by α-methyl-p-tyrosine. Psychopharm-acologia (Berl.), 26: 307–312, 1972.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Carlsson, A., Kehr, W., Lindqvist, M., Magnussen, T., Atack, C.V. Regulation of monoamine metabolism in the central nervous system. Pharmac. Rev. 24: 371–384, 1972.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Carlsson, A.,. Lindqvist, M. Effect of ethanol on the hydroxy lotion of tyrosine and tryptophan in rat brain in vivo. J. Pharm. Pharmacol. 25: 437–440, 1973.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carlsson, A., Magnussen, T., Svensson, T.H., Waldeck, B. Effect of ethanol on the metabolism of brain catecholamines. Psychopharmacologia (Berl.), 30: 27–36, 1973.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cedarbaum, J.M., Aghajanian, G.K. Noradrenergic neurons of the locus coeruleus: inhibition by apomorphine and activation by the α-antagonist piperoxane. Brain Res. 112; 413–419, 1976.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Corrodi, H., Fuxe, K., Hökfelt, T. The effect of some psychoactive drugs on central monoamine neurons. Eur. J. Pharmacol, 1: 363–368, 1967.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Corrodi, H., Fuxe, K., Lidbrink, P., Olson, L. Minor tranquillizers, stress and central catecholamine neurons. Brain Res. 29: 1–16, 1971.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Engel, J., Liljequist, S. Behavioural effects of β-receptor blocking agents in experimental animals. In C. Carlsson, J. Engel and L. Hansson (Eds.) Neuro-psychiatric effects of adrenergic beta-receptor blocking agents, pp. 45–50. München-Berlin-Wien, Urban and Schwarzenberg, 1976.

    Google Scholar 

  • Engel, J., Strömbom, U., Svensson, T.H., Waldeck, B. Suppression by α-methyltyrosine of the ethanol-induced locomotor stimulation: Partial reversal by L-dopa. Psychopharmocologia (Berl.), 37: 275–279, 1974.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Grabowska, M., Andfen, N.-E. Noradrenaline synthesis and utilization: control by nerve impulse flow under normal conditions and after treatment with a-adrenoceptor blocking agents. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg’s Arch. Pharmacol. 232: 53–58, 1976.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Graham, A.W., Aghajanian, G.K. Effects of amphetamine on single cell activity in a catecholamine nucleus, the locus coeruleus. Nature 234; 100–102, 1971.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gysling, K., Bustos, G., Coucha, I., Martinez, G.: Effect of ethanol on dopamine synthesis and release from rat corpus striatum. Biochem. Pharmac. 25: 157–162, 1976.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hansson, L.C.F. Evidence that the central action of amphetamine is mediated via catecholamines. Psychopharmacologia (Berl.), 9: 78–80, 1966.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jönsson, L.E., Günne, L.-M., Änggärd, E. Effect of α-methyltyrosine in amphetamine-dependent subjects, Pharmacol. Clin. 2: 27–29, 1969.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Karoum, F., Wyatt, R.J., Majchrowicz, E. Brain concentrations of biogenic amine metabolites in acutely treated and ethanol-dependent rats. Br. J. Pharmacol. 56: 403–411, 1976.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kehr, W., Carlsson, A., Lindqvist, M. A method for the determination of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (Dopa) in brain. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg’s Arch. Pharmacol. 274: 273–280, 1972.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Korf, J., Bunney, B.S., Aghajanian, G.K. Noradrenergic neurons: Morphine inhibition of spontaneous activity. Europ. J. Pharmacol. 25, 165–169, 1974.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lidbrink, P., Corrodi, H., Fuxe, K., Olson, L. Barbiturates and meprobamate: decreases in catecholamine turnover of central dopamine and noradrenaline neuronal systems and the influence of immobilisation stress. Brain Res. 45: 507–524, 1972.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Liljequist, S., Carlsson, A. Alterations of central catecholamine metabolism following acute administration of ethanol. In manuscript, 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  • Matchett, J.A., Erickson, C.K. Alterations of ethanol-induced changes in locomotor activity by adrenergic blockers in mice. Psychopharmacology, 52: 201–206, 1977.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pohorecky, L.A. Biphasic action of ethanol. Biobehavioral Reviews, 1 231–240, 1977.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pohorecky, L.A., Brick, J. Activity of neurons in the locus coeruleus of the rat: inhibition by ethanol. Brain Res. 131: 174–179, 1977.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pohorecky, L.A., Jaffe, L.S. Noradrenergic involvement in the acute effects of ethanol Res. Commun. Chem. Path. Pharmacol. 12: 433–447, 1975.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pohorecky, L.A., Newman, B. Effect of ethanol on dopamine synthesis in rat striatal synaptosomes. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 2: 329–334, 1977.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Randrup, A., Munkvad, J. Role of catecholamines in the amphetamine excitatory response. Nature (Lond.), 211; 540, 1966.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Read, G.W., Cutting, W., Fürst, A. Comparison of excited phases after sedatives and tranquillizers. Psychopharmacologia (Berl.), 1: 346–350, 1960.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Reynolds, G.S., Sommers, P. van. Effects of ethyl alcohol on avoidance behaviour. Science, 132, 42–43,1960.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Roth, R.H., Walters, J.R., Aghajanian, G.K. Effect of impulse flow on the release and synthesis of dopamine in the rat striatum. In E. Usdin and S.H. Snyder (Eds.) Frontiers in Catecholamine research, pp. 567–574. New York, Pergamon Press, 1973.

    Google Scholar 

  • Salmoiraghi, G.C., Weight, F. Micromethods in neuropharmacology: an approach to the study of anesthetics. Anesthesiology, 28: 54–64, 1967.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sanders, B., Sharpless, S.K., Collins, A.C., McClearn, G.E., Flanagan, C. Activating and anesthetic effects of general depressants. Psychopharmacology, 56, 185–189, 1978.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Seevers, M.H. Psychopharmacological elements of drug dependence. J. Am. Med. Assoc. 206, 1263–1266, 1968.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Smith, A., Hayashida, K., Kim, Y. Inhibition by propranolol of ethanol induced narcosis. J. Pharm. Pharmacol. 22: 644–645, 1970.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Starke, K., Montel, H. Involvement of a-receptor in clonidine-induced inhibition of transmitter release from central monoamine neurons. Neuropharmacology, 12 : 1073–1080, 1973.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Strömbom, U., Svensson, T.H. Antagonism of morphine-induced central stimulation in mice by small doses of catecholamine-receptor agonists. J. Neural Transmission, 42: 169–179, 1978.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Strömbom, U., Svensson, T.H., Carlsson, A. Antagonism of ethanol’s central stimulation in mice by small doses of catecholamine-receptor agonists. Psuchopharmacology, 51: 293–299, 1977.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Svensson, T.H. Central α-adrenoceptors and affective symptoms and disorder. In E. Lindenlaub (Ed.) Depressive Disorders,Symposia Medico Hoechst 13, pp. 245–254. Stuttgart-New York, F.K. Schattauer Verlag, 1977.

    Google Scholar 

  • Svensson, T.H., Bunney, B.S., Aghajanian, G.K. Inhibition of both nor-adrenergic and serotonergic neurons in brain by the α-adrenergic agonist Clonidine. Brain Res. 92: 291–306, 1975.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Svensson, T.H., Waldeck, B. Significance of acetaldehyde in ethanol-induced effects on catecholamine metabolism and motor activity in the mouse. Psychopharmacologia (Berl.), 31: 229–238, 1973.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tasaki, K., Tsukuhara, U., Ito, S., Wayner, M.J., Yu, W.Y. A simple, direct and rapid method for filling microelectrodes. Physiol. Behav. 3: 1009–1010, 1068.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Waldeck, B. Ethanol and Coffeine: a complex interaction with respect to locomotor activity and central catecholamines. Psychopharmacologia (Berl.), 36: 209–220, 1974.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Weissman, A., Koe, B.K., Tenen, S. Antiamphetamine effects following inhibition of tyrosine hydroxylase. J. Pharmacol, exp. Ther. 151: 339–352, 1966.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacology, University of Göteborg Fack, S-400 33, Göteborg, Sweden

    Torgny H. Svensson & Göran Engberg

Authors
  1. Torgny H. Svensson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Göran Engberg
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York, USA

    Henri Begleiter

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1980 Plenum Press, New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Svensson, T.H., Engberg, G. (1980). Antagonism of Ethanol’s Central Stimulation by Catecholamine Receptor Agonists. In: Begleiter, H. (eds) Biological Effects of Alcohol. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 126. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-3632-7_40

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-3632-7_40

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4684-3634-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4684-3632-7

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation