Alpha-adrenergic input in the locus coeruleus modulates plasma adrenocorticotropin in cats

Previous evidence suggested that noradrenergic activity in the vicinity of the ventrorostral locus coeruleus (LC) increased in response to hemorrhage. To investigate the possible role of this response in the control of ACTH release, microinjections (100 nl/min for 2 min) of several agents were made at 59 sites in 35 cats anesthetized with chloralose. Injections were as follows: vehicle (all sites); 150 mM L-glutamate (GLU; 51 sites); an alpha 2-agonist, 1 mM clonidine (19 sites); an alpha 2-antagonist, 1 mM yohimbine (32 sites); an alpha 1-agonist, 1 mM phenylephrine (PE; 42 sites); and an alpha 1-antagonist, 0.05 mM prazosin (20 sites). Plasma ACTH was measured by RIA. Responses were tested statistically by repeated measures analysis of variance. GLU at 12 sites in the region of the ventrorostral LC facilitated plasma ACTH (P less than 0.01), whereas GLU at 6 sites in the caudal LC inhibited ACTH (P less than 0.05). Clonidine at 9 sites in an area that included the ventrorostral LC inhibited ACTH (P less than 0.05), and yohimbine at 7 sites within this latter area facilitated ACTH (P less than 0.01). PE within the ventrorostral LC had no effect on ACTH. However, PE at 10 sites within the caudal LC and along the ventromedial border of the ventrorostral LC facilitated ACTH. The responses for all of these areas to the respective agents differed from those to vehicle, whereas responses from other areas to the former agents or from all areas to prazosin did not. An increase in noradrenergic turnover in the LC may provide inhibitory alpha 2 modulation to the neurons in the LC that are activated by hemorrhage. This modulation and possible alpha 1 input in areas adjacent to the ventrorostral LC may influence the hemodynamic control of ACTH release.