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Actions of alpha adrenergic receptor agonists on rat hippocampal CA3 network activity
Author(s) -
Green Kristan,
Boese Sarah,
Xu Ke,
Nelson Brian,
Goldenstein Brianna,
Davis Kylie,
Lichter Jessica,
Pribula Jacqueline,
O’Brien Jasmine,
Johnson Jamie,
Jurgens Chris,
Porter James,
Doze Van
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.21.6.a1210-a
Alpha‐2 adrenergic receptors (α 2 ARs) are important regulators of many physiological processes. Although many α 2 AR ligands have been characterized on peripheral ARs, little is known about their actions in central nervous system. This study is focused on the inhibitory effects of α 2 AR agonists on hippocampal CA3 network activity. Using extracellular field potential recordings in rat brain slices, various chemical classes of α 2 AR agonists including phenethylamines, imidazolines and guanidines were investigated. Variations of the potency and efficacy of these compounds were examined in relationship to their structural differences. Results indicated that the rank order of potency for phenethylamines was epinephrine > 6‐fluoroNE = alpha‐methyl‐NE > NE, with all being full agonists. In contrast, only one of the five imidazolines or guanidines tested was a full agonist. Since structural dissimilarities among phenethylamines were insignificant while differences among each class of agonist were significant, a conclusion can be drawn that compositional attributes of phenethylamines contribute to their efficacy and potency at the α 2 AR inhibiting hippocampal CA3 activity. This study was funded in part by ND EPSCoR, NSF CAREER 0347259, NSF REU Site 0639227 and the APS Explorations in Biomedicine Undergraduate Summer Research Fellowship Program for Native Americans.