Alpha 2- and beta-adrenergic stimulation of corticosterone secretion in rats

Bilateral injection of 6-hydroxydopamine into the medial forebrain bundle (MFB) significantly decreased monoamine concentrations in the hypothalamus. The noradrenaline and serotonin content of the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) was also significantly reduced. These drastic decreases in neurotransmitter concentration did not alter basal secretion of corticosterone. Isoproterenol, a beta-adrenoceptor agonist (1 mg/kg, i.p.), significantly stimulated corticosterone release in saline and MFB lesioned rats. This stimulation did not differ significantly between the two groups. Clonidine, an alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonist, injected either intraperitoneally or intracerebrally just dorsal to the PVN, caused a dose-dependent increase in corticosterone secretion. The stimulation of corticosterone release by clonidine (250 micrograms/kg, i.p.) was antagonised by the selective alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonist, yohimbine (1 mg/kg, i.p.) and significantly reduced by the MFB lesion. These results suggest that corticosterone secretion is stimulated by activation of alpha 2-adrenoceptors which occur on noradrenergic nerve terminals in the PVN.