Locus coeruleus activity in perinatally protein-deprived rats: effects of fluoxetine administration.

SODERO, A.O., VALDOMERO, A., CUADRA, G.R., RAMÍREZ, O.A., ORSINGHER, O.A.

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY

Elsevier

Lugar: Netherlands; Año: 2004 vol. 503 p. 35 - 35

0014-2999

font face="AdvTT5843c571" size="1"> We have previously described an increased locus coeruleus activity in perinatally protein-deprived rats. Since locus coeruleus dysfunction has been involved in different types of anxiety disorders and considering the modulating action of serotonergic transmission on locus coeruleus activity, we assessed the effect of fluoxetine, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), on locus coeruleus activity as measured by the firing rate and the number of spontaneously active cells/track. Repeated fluoxetine administration reduced locus coeruleus activity in both control and protein-deprived rats, although the reduction was greater in protein-deprived rats. Dose–response curves for the inhibitory effect of clonidine showed subsensitivity of a2-adrenergic autoreceptors in protein-deprived rats, a phenomenon reversed