Idazoxan and brain alpha 2-adrenoceptors in the rabbit

The effect of intravenous infusion of idazoxan on the depressor response to intracisternal clonidine 1 microgram/kg and on [3H]yohimbine binding in the fore- and hindbrain of the rabbit was examined. Idazoxan was infused either acutely (30 min) or chronically (5 days) at doses of 0.56 or 1.1 mg/h. Idazoxan 1.1 mg/h reduced the fall in blood pressure after clonidine. This attenuation of the depressor response was observed in the groups that were given the higher dose of idazoxan both acutely and chronically. The extent of attenuation was not modified by the duration of treatment. The low dose of idazoxan given acutely had no significant effect on the response to clonidine but the chronically infused group showed an enhanced response. A significant increase in the number of [3H]yohimbine binding sites (83%) was observed in the forebrain after 5 days infusion of 1.1 mg/h idazoxan with no change in the hindbrain. The lower dose of infusion did not cause any significant change in [3H]yohimbine binding in either brain region. Thus it appears that the susceptibility of the alpha 2-adrenoceptor binding sites to up-regulation by idazoxan may depend on the brain region observed.