Effect of repeated administration of novel stressors on central beta adrenoceptors.

Subtypes of beta adrenoceptors were measured in 17 different areas of brain in rats exposed for 12 days to novel stressors. Mild stress such as individual housing and handling caused no change in beta 1 and beta 2 adrenoceptors in comparison with that measured in rats that were group housed and never handled. Exposure of rats to more severe stressors did reduce significantly the binding of 125I-iodopindolol (125I-IPIN) to beta 1 adrenoceptors, but not beta 2 adrenoceptors, only in the lateral and basolateral nuclei of the amygdala.