Pellejero T, Monti JM, Baglietto J, Jantos H, Pazos S, Cichevski V, Hawkins M. Effects of methoxamine and alpha-adrenoceptor antagonists, prazosin and yohimbine, on the sleep-wake cycle of the rat.
Sleep 1984;
7:365-72. [PMID:
6515252 DOI:
10.1093/sleep/7.4.365]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
A study was carried out on the effects of methoxamine, prazosin, and yohimbine on the sleep-wake cycle in rats prepared for chronic sleep recordings. Methoxamine (4-8 mg/kg), an alpha 1-adrenoceptor agonist, induced a dose-related increase in wakefulness (W) and a decrease in slow-wave sleep (SWS) and REM sleep (REMS). Prazosin (0.125-1 mg/kg), which selectively blocks alpha 1-adrenoceptors, modified only slightly the amount of time spent in W and SWS, and consistently decreased REMS values. Prazosin (0.5 mg/kg) reversed the effects of methoxamine, decreasing W and increasing sleep. Yohimbine (3 mg/kg), which blocks alpha 2-adrenoceptors, augmented W and diminished sleep. Methoxamine (4 mg/kg) in animals pretreated with yohimbine (3 mg/kg) induced a further decrease of SWS and REMS and an increase of W. Thus, pharmacological activation of alpha 1- or blocking of alpha 2-adrenoceptors appears to decrease sleep and increase W. Further, blocking of alpha 1-adrenoceptors decreases REMS. Rapid eye movement sleep depression by the alpha 1-agonist or the alpha 1-antagonist is tentatively ascribed to a critical change in noradrenergic transmission in the brain.
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