Electroconvulsive shock and reserpine increase alpha 1-adrenoceptor binding sites but not norepinephrine-stimulated phosphoinositide hydrolysis in rat brain.

Repeated treatment of rats with either electroconvulsive shock or reserpine increased the density of alpha 1-adrenoceptor binding sites labeled by [3H]prazosin in rat frontal cerebral cortex. In contrast, norepinephrine-stimulated phosphoinositide hydrolysis, which is mediated by alpha 1-adrenoceptors, was not significantly affected by either treatment. These data suggest that electroconvulsive shock and reserpine might increase only or predominantly a subtype of alpha 1-adrenoceptor that is not coupled to phosphoinositide hydrolysis.