atosiban and apraclonidine

The modulation of the central cardiovascular effects of alpha2-adrenoceptor activation by oxytocin in the nucleus tractus solitarii has been evaluated by cardiovascular analysis and by quantitative receptor autoradiography. Microinjections in the nucleus tractus solitarii of a threshold dose of oxytocin effectively and significantly counteracted the vasodepressor and bradycardic actions of an ED50 dose of the alpha2-adrenoceptor agonist clonidine. The coinjection of a threshold dose of oxytocin with a threshold dose of clonidine did not produce any changes in the mean arterial pressure but a tachycardic response was observed. Receptor autoradiographical experiments showed that oxytocin (3 nM) significantly increased the Kd and Bmax values of [3H]p-aminoclonidine binding sites in the nucleus tractus solitarii compatible with a possible antagonistic interaction with the alpha2-adrenoceptors, and this effect was blocked by the presence of the specific oxytocin receptor antagonist 1-deamino-2-D-Tyr-(OEt)-4-Thr-8-Orn-oxytocin. These findings suggest the existence of an antagonistic oxytocin/alpha2-adrenoceptor interaction in nucleus tractus solitarii that may be of relevance for the demonstrated modulation of alpha2-adrenoceptor induced cardiovascular responses by oxytocin.

Topics: Adrenergic alpha-2 Receptor Agonists; Adrenergic alpha-2 Receptor Antagonists; Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; Animals; Autoradiography; Blood Pressure; Clonidine; Drug Interactions; Heart Rate; Hormone Antagonists; Male; Microinjections; Oxytocin; Radioligand Assay; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2; Solitary Nucleus; Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; Tritium; Vasotocin