An alpha 2-adrenergic mode of action of chlordimeform on rat visual function.

The hypothesis that chlordimeform increased the amplitude of components N1P1 and P1N3 in rat pattern-reversal visual evoked potentials through actions on alpha 2-adrenergic receptors was tested with two sets of experiments. First, rats received single injections of either vehicle, an alpha 2-adrenergic antagonist yohimbine (0.1, 0.5, or 2.0 mg/kg), or an alpha 2-adrenergic agonist clonidine (0.05, 0.1, or 0.5 mg/kg). Yohimbine alone had no effect on pattern-reversal evoked potential amplitude. Clonidine treatment produced a dosage related increase in amplitude of both components similar to that produced by chlordimeform (W.K. Boyes and R.S. Dyer, 1984, Brain Res. Bull., 10, 817-823). Second, rats were given double injections of either vehicle or yohimbine (0.05, 0.5, 2.0, or 5.0 mg/kg) followed by either vehicle, clonidine (0.1 or 0.2 mg/kg) or chlordimeform (10, 20, or 40 mg/kg). Yohimbine pretreatment attenuated the effects of subsequent treatment with either clonidine or chlordimeform. These results support the hypothesis that chlordimeform alters rat pattern-reversal evoked potentials through actions as a central nervous system alpha 2-adrenergic agonist.