Alpha-2 adrenoceptor mediating the facilitatory effect of norepinephrine on the glycine response in the spinal dorsal horn neuron of the rat

Phasic activation of the locus coeruleus attenuates the acoustic startle response by increasing cortical arousal

An alerting sound elicits the Acoustic Startle Response (ASR) that is dependent on the sound volume and organisms’ state, which is regulated by neuromodulatory centers. The locus coeruleus (LC) neurons respond to salient stimuli and noradrenaline release affects sensory processing, including auditory. The LC hyperactivity is detrimental for sensorimotor gating. We report here that priming microstimulation of the LC (100-ms at 20, 50, and 100 Hz) attenuated the ASR in rats. The ASR reduction scaled with frequency and 100 Hz-stimulation mimicked pre-exposure to a non-startling tone (prepulse). A rapid (~ 40 ms) EEG desynchronization following the LC stimulation suggested that the ASR reduction was due to elevated cortical arousal. The effects of LC stimulation on the ASR and EEG were consistent with systematic relationships between the ASR, awake/sleep state, and the cortical arousal level; for that matter, a lower ASR amplitude corresponded to a higher arousal level. Thus, the LC appears to modulate the ASR circuit via its diffuse ascending projections to the forebrain saliency network. The LC modulation directly in the brainstem and/or spinal cord may also play a role. Our findings suggest the LC as a part of the brain circuitry regulating the ASR, while underlying neurophysiological mechanisms require further investigation.

Noradrenaline-mediated facilitation of inhibitory synaptic transmission in the dorsal horn of the rat spinal cord involves interlaminar communications

In the dorsal horn of the spinal cord (DH), noradrenaline (NA) is released by axons originating from the locus coeruleus and induces spinal analgesia, the mechanisms of which are poorly understood. Here, the effects of NA on synaptic transmission in the deep laminae (III-V) of the DH were characterized. It was shown that exogenously applied, as well as endogenously released, NA facilitated inhibitory [γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic and glycinergic] synaptic transmission in laminae III-IV of the DH by activating α1-, α2- and β-adrenoceptors (ARs). In contrast, NA had no effect on excitatory (glutamatergic) synaptic transmission. Physical interruption of communications between deep and more superficial laminae (by a mechanical transection between laminae IV and V) totally blocked the effects of α2-AR agonists and strongly reduced the effects of α1-AR agonists on inhibitory synaptic transmission in laminae III-IV without directly impairing synaptic release of GABA or glycine from neurons. Short-term pretreatment of intact spinal cord slices with the glial cell metabolism inhibitor fluorocitrate or pharmacological blockade of ionotropic glutamate and ATP receptors mimicked the consequences of a mechanical transection between laminae IV and V. Taken together, the current results indicate that the facilitation of inhibitory synaptic transmission in laminae III-IV of the DH by NA requires functional interlaminar connections between deep and more superficial laminae, and might strongly depend on glia to neuron interactions. These interlaminar connections and glia to neuron interactions could represent interesting targets for analgesic strategies.

Dexmedetomidine and clonidine induce long-lasting activation of the respiratory rhythm generator of neonatal mice: possible implication for critical care

Dexmedetomidine and clonidine are alpha-2 adrenoceptor agonists increasingly used in the critical care unit as sedative agents for their benzodiazepine-sparing effects and their limited depressing effect on breathing. However adverse effects on breathing have been also reported with alpha-2 adrenoceptor agonists and their central effects on the respiratory rhythm generator are poorly known. We therefore examined the effects of dexmedetomidine, clonidine, the alpha-2 adrenoceptor antagonist yohimbine and the benzodiazepine midazolam on the activity of the isolated respiratory rhythm generator of neonatal mice using medullary preparations where the respiratory rhythm generator continued to function in vitro. For the first time, we showed that 5min bath applications of dexmedetomidine or clonidine activated the respiratory rhythm generator for periods over than 30min. Second, we showed that the long-lasting effect of dexmedetomidine implicated receptors other than alpha-2 adrenoceptors as it persisted after their blockade with yohimbine. Third, we reported that 5min bath applications of the benzodiazepine midazolam significantly depressed the respiratory rhythm generator, and that this depression was prevented by pre-treatment with either dexmedetomidine or clonidine. Although further experiments are still required to identify the mechanisms through which dexmedetomidine and clonidine activate the respiratory rhythm generator, our current in vitro results in neonatal mice support the use of dexmedetomidine and clonidine in the critical care unit.

Functional neuroanatomy of the noradrenergic locus coeruleus: its roles in the regulation of arousal and autonomic function part I: principles of functional organisation

The locus coeruleus (LC) is the major noradrenergic nucleus of the brain, giving rise to fibres innervating extensive areas throughout the neuraxis. Recent advances in neuroscience have resulted in the unravelling of the neuronal circuits controlling a number of physiological functions in which the LC plays a central role. Two such functions are the regulation of arousal and autonomic activity, which are inseparably linked largely via the involvement of the LC. The LC is a major wakefulness-promoting nucleus, resulting from dense excitatory projections to the majority of the cerebral cortex, cholinergic neurones of the basal forebrain, cortically-projecting neurones of the thalamus, serotoninergic neurones of the dorsal raphe and cholinergic neurones of the pedunculopontine and laterodorsal tegmental nucleus, and substantial inhibitory projections to sleep-promoting GABAergic neurones of the basal forebrain and ventrolateral preoptic area. Activation of the LC thus results in the enhancement of alertness through the innervation of these varied nuclei. The importance of the LC in controlling autonomic function results from both direct projections to the spinal cord and projections to autonomic nuclei including the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus, the nucleus ambiguus, the rostroventrolateral medulla, the Edinger-Westphal nucleus, the caudal raphe, the salivatory nuclei, the paraventricular nucleus, and the amygdala. LC activation produces an increase in sympathetic activity and a decrease in parasympathetic activity via these projections. Alterations in LC activity therefore result in complex patterns of neuronal activity throughout the brain, observed as changes in measures of arousal and autonomic function.

Effects of noradrenaline on the GABA response in rat isolated spiral ganglion neurons in culture

In the present study, the modulatory effects of noradrenaline (NA) on the GABA response were investigated in the isolated cultured spiral ganglion neurons of rat by using nystatin perforated patch recording configuration under voltage-clamp conditions. NA reversibly depressed GABA response in a concentration-dependent manner and neither changed the reversal potential of the GABA response nor affected the apparent affinity of GABA to its receptor. alpha2-adrenoceptor agonist and antagonist, clonidine and yohimbine mimicked and blocked the NA action on the GABA response, respectively. N-[2(methylamino)ethyl]-5-isoquinoline sulfonamide dihydrochloride (H-89), a protein kinase A inhibitor, mimicked the effect of NA on the GABA response. NA failed to affect the GABA response in the presence of both cAMP and protein kinase A modulator. However, NA still depressed the GABA response even in the presence of both phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate, a protein kinase C activator and chelerythrine, a protein kinase C inhibitor. These results suggest that the NA suppression of the GABA response is mediated by alpha2-adrenoceptor which reduces intracellular cAMP formation through the inhibition of adenylyl cyclase. Therefore, NA input to the spiral ganglion neurons may modulate the auditory transmission by affecting the GABA response.

Physical activity alters the brain Hsp72 and IL-1beta responses to peripheral E. coli challenge

Physically active rats have facilitated heat shock protein 72 (Hsp72) responses after stressor exposure in both brain and peripheral tissues compared with sedentary rats. This study verifies that physically active animals do not have elevated Hsp72 levels compared with sedentary animals in the hypothalamus, pituitary, or dorsal vagal complex. We then examined whether 1) physically active rats respond more efficiently than sedentary rats to a bacterial challenge; 2) peripheral immune challenge elicits brain induction of Hsp72; 3) this induction is facilitated by prior freewheel running; and 4) Hsp72 upregulation produced by peripheral immune challenge results in a commensurate decrease in the proinflammatory cytokine IL-1beta. Adult male Fischer 344 rats were housed with either a mobile or locked running wheel. Six weeks later, rats were injected intraperitoneally with saline or Escherichia coli and killed 30 min, 2.5 h, 6 h, and 24 h later. Serum endotoxin and IL-1beta, and peritoneal fluid endotoxin and E. coli colony-forming units (CFUs) were measured. Hsp72 and IL-1beta were measured in hypothalamus, pituitary, and dorsal vagal complex. The results were that physically active rats had a faster reduction in endotoxin and E. coli CFUs and lower levels of circulating endotoxin and cytokines compared with sedentary rats. E. coli challenge elicited significantly greater time-dependent increases of both Hsp72 and IL-1beta in hypothalamus, pituitary, and dorsal vagal complex of physically active animals but not sedentary animals. Contrary to our hypothesis, increases in Hsp72 were positively correlated with IL-1beta. This study extends our findings that physical activity facilitates stress-induced Hsp72 to include immunological stressors such as bacterial challenge and suggests that brain Hsp72 and IL-1beta responses to peripheral immune challenge may contribute to exercise-mediated resistance to long-term sickness.