Antagonizing Effects of β-Adrenergic Blockers on Locus Coeruleus-Induced Inhibition of Trigeminal Nucleus Neurons

Abstract

Effects of .alpha.- and .beta.-adrenergic blocking agents applied into the lateral ventricle were studied on the relay neuron in the rostral part of spinal trigeminal nucleus (STN) of cats. Conditioning stimulation of the locus coeruleus (LC) and sensory cortex (SC) inhibited the orthodromic spike generation in STN relay neuron without affecting the antidromic spike, as already reported, and reconfirmed here. The LC-induced inhibition of orthodromic spike was significantly reduced by intraventricular administration of .beta.-blockers, MJ 1999 [sotatol] (5 mg) and propranolol (0.5 mg), while the SC-induced inhibition of orthodromic one was not modified by the .beta.-blockers. The antidromic spike in STN relay neuron per se remained unaffected by these treatments. Intraventricular administration of .alpha.-blockers such as phentolamine and phenoxybenzamine produced no alterations of the LC- and SC-induced inhibition of orthodromic spike. As the .beta.-blockers produced a selective antagonism, noradrenaline originating in LC probably acts as an inhibitory transmitter on the STN relay neuron and is mediated by .beta.-receptor.