The effect of propranolol on the desipramine-induced regeneration of brain noradrenergic axons in the rat

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Nakamura, S.

Affiliations: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920, Japan

Note: [] Correspondence: S. Nakamura, Department of Physiology, Yamaguchi University School of Medicine, Ube 755, Japan.

Abstract: The antagonizing effect of the β-adrenoceptor antagonist propranolol (PRP) on the desipramine (DMI)-induced regeneration of brain noradrenergic fibers was examined. The symmetrical sites of the rat frontal cortex were pretreated with 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA). Then, the same cortical site of one hemisphere was infused with DMI, while the corresponding site of the other hemisphere was infused with DMI (1 mM) plus PRP (1 mM). The DMI-induced axonal regeneration was attenuated by PRP. This finding suggests that activation of β-adrenoceptors is involved at least in part in the regeneration of brain noradrenergic axons.

Keywords: Antidepressant, Desipramine, Beta-adrenoceptor, Propranolol, Noradrenergic axon, Axonal regeneration

DOI: 10.3233/RNN-1994-6405

Journal: Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience, vol. 6, no. 4, pp. 297-300, 1994