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ADRENALINE DEPLETION IN THE HYPOTHALAMUS OF THE RAT AFTER CHRONIC α‐METHYLDOPA
Author(s) -
Beart P. M.,
Prosser Denise,
Louis W. J.
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
clinical and experimental pharmacology and physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 103
eISSN - 1440-1681
pISSN - 0305-1870
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1681.1981.tb00130.x
Subject(s) - hypothalamus , endocrinology , medicine , dopamine , chemistry , norepinephrine , methyldopa , alpha (finance) , blood pressure , construct validity , nursing , patient satisfaction
SUMMARY 1. Individual anterior hypothalamic‐preoptic nuclei were dissected from the brains of control and α‐methyldopa treated (2 × 40 mg/kg, 5 days) rats, and the concentrations of adrenaline and other catecholamines were estimated. 2. By a combination of radioenzymatic assay and paper chromatography the concentrations of adrenaline, noradrenaline, dopamine, α‐methylnoradrenaline and α‐methyldopamine were determined concurrently in the same sample. 3. α‐Methyldopa reduced the adrenaline levels of the hypothalamic nuclei by 47–68% of control concentrations. 4. A differential displacement of the parent catecholamines was observed and the depletions were ranked: adrenaline < dopamine < noradrenaline. 5. α‐Methylnoradrenaline and α‐methyldopamine were found in all hypothalamic nuclei. 6. The depletion of hypothalamic adrenaline by α‐methyldopa could represent a pharmacological mechanism contributing to the antihypertensive action of the drug.