The stimulatory effect of clonidine on locus coeruleus neurons of rats with inactivated α2-adrenoceptors: involvement of imidazoline receptors located in the nucleus paragigantocellularis

Clonidine stimulates locus coeruleus neurons by an α₂-adrenoceptor-independent mechanism which probably involves imidazoline receptors. To study this effect, single-unit extracellular recordings in the locus coeruleus were performed in anaesthetised rats after complete, irreversible inactivation of α₂-adrenoceptors by the alkylating agent N-ethoxycarbonyl-2-ethoxy-1,2-dihydroquinoline (EEDQ) (6 mg/kg i.p.; 6 h before experiments). After this pretreatment, clonidine applied into the locus coeruleus failed to produce any change in the cell firing rate. However, clonidine applied intravenously (320–2560 μg/kg), or locally (0.5–2.0 μl of 0.02 M) into the nucleus paragigantocellularis, a major locus coeruleus afferent, stimulated locus coeruleus neurons (increasing the firing rate by approximately 90%). Electrical lesions of the nucleus paragigantocellularis greatly attenuated the clonidine induced stimulation of locus coeruleus neurons ipsilateral to the lesion when applied intravenously. Blood pressure which was recorded simultaneously with cell recording, remained unaffected after clonidine administration in EEDQ pretreated rats. These results indicate that the clonidine-induced stimulation of locus coeruleus neurons is an indirect effect mediated by imidazoline receptors located on paragigantocellularis neurons projecting to the locus coeruleus. Received: 12 August 1996 / Accepted: 13 October 1996