Differential region-specific regulation of central alpha 1-adrenoceptor binding following chronic haloperidol and clozapine administration in the rat.

RATIONALE

Many antipsychotics exhibit potent anti-alpha(1)-adrenergic receptor activity, which has been suggested to contribute to typical and atypical antipsychotic effects and to the production of centrally mediated side effects.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the relative contribution of alpha(1)-adrenoceptors to the mechanism of action of haloperidol and clozapine and to identify possible sites of action.

METHODS

We examined the effect of chronic haloperidol and clozapine treatment on alpha(1)-adrenoceptor characteristics in several rat brain regions. For comparison, D(2)-like dopamine receptor density in the striatum was also determined.

RESULTS

Clozapine administration (25 mg/kg/day i.p., 21 days) significantly increased alpha(1)-adrenoceptor density in the frontal cortex (44%), remaining cortex (49%) and thalamus (93%) but binding levels in the hippocampus and spinal cord were unchanged relative to vehicle. Haloperidol treatment (1.5 mg/kg/day i.p., 21 days) also significantly increased the density of alpha(1)-adrenoceptor binding in the thalamus (73%), but had no effect on alpha(1)-adrenoceptor levels in any other region examined. alpha(1)-Adrenoceptor affinity in the cortex was not significantly altered by either antipsychotic treatment. Haloperidol, in contrast to clozapine, significantly upregulated dopamine D(2)-like binding in the striatum.

CONCLUSIONS

Central alpha(1)-adrenoceptors are differentially regulated after chronic haloperidol and clozapine treatment. It is suggested that thalamic alpha(1)-adrenoceptors may represent a common anatomical locus contributing to the antipsychotic activity and/or alpha(1)-adrenoceptor centrally mediated side effects of both drugs, whereas the selective upregulation of cortical alpha(1)-adrenoceptor density by clozapine may contribute, in part, to its superior atypical properties.