Effect of long-term ethanol feeding on brainstem alpha(2)-receptor binding in Wistar-Kyoto and spontaneously hypertensive rats

Brain Research
Mahmoud M El-Mas, Abdel A Abdel-Rahman

Abstract

Our previous studies have shown that ethanol attenuates baroreflex function in Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) but not in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). The present study determined the effects of chronic ethanol administration on alpha(2)-binding sites in brainstem areas that modulate baroreflexes. In vitro autoradiography was utilized to evaluate the effect of a 3-month ethanol feeding on the density (B(max)) and affinity (K(D)) of alpha(2)-adrenoceptors in the middle (mNTS) and rostral (rNTS) portions of the nucleus tractus solitarius of SHRs and WKY rats. Autoradiographic examination of brainstem sections preincubated with [125I]p-iodoclonidine revealed no inter-strain differences in alpha(2)-binding in control rats. Ethanol feeding caused strain-dependent changes in alpha(2)-binding activity, which comprised significant (P<0.05) decreases in the density of alpha(2)-binding sites in both areas of the NTS in SHRs versus no effect in WKY rats. These findings do not favor a role for brainstem alpha(2)-adrenoceptors in ethanol-induced attenuation of baroreflexes. Interestingly, the ethanol-evoked reduction in the NTS alpha(2)-receptor density in SHRs may explain reported findings that ethanol abolishes the hypotensive effect of the...Continue Reading

Citations

Mar 28, 2003·The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics·Mahmoud M El-Mas, Abdel A Abdel-Rahman
Feb 9, 2019·Alcoholism, Clinical and Experimental Research·Brijesh G TaksandeNandkishor R Kotagale
Feb 15, 2003·Biological Research for Nursing·Joan A Masters, Joanne S Stevenson
Apr 19, 2005·Alcoholism, Clinical and Experimental Research·Guichu LiAbdel A Abdel-Rahman

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