Noradrenaline receptor sensitivity after chronic ethanol administration.

The effects of the central noradrenaline receptor stimulating agent clonidine on blood pressure, heart rate, and flexor reflex activity were studied in intact rats and in rats chronically treated with ethanol. The clonidine-induced changes were similar in ethanol-treated animals and in animals never subjected to ethanol. The results suggest that the sensitivity of central noradrenaline receptors involved in the mediation of the circulatory changes and of the flexor reflex activity after clonidine is not altered by chronic administration of ethanol.