Characterization of alpha-adrenoceptors participating in the central hypotensive and sedative effects of clonidine using yohimbine, rauwolscine and corynanthine.

The central alpha-adrenoceptors responsible for mediating the clonidine-induced central hypotension in anaesthetized cats and sedation in mice have been characterized according to their sensitivities to the alpha-adrenoceptor antagonist yohimbine and its two diastereomeric congeners rauwolscine and corynanthine. Yohimbine and rauwolscine (1-10 microgram/kg) dose-dependently antagonized the central hypotensive response to clonidine (1 microgram/kg) applied 15 min later. Greater amounts of corynanthine (30-100 micrograms/kg) had to be administered to diminish the central depressor effect of clonidine. In these studies the drugs were infused via the left vertebral artery. The prolongation of the hexobarbitone-induced loss of the righting reflex in mice by clonidine (0.3 mg/kg, i.p.) was inhibited by previous treatment with yohimbine and rauwolscine (0.04-5 mg/kg, i.p.) in a dose-dependent manner, but not by corynanthine. Binding experiments with rat isolated cerebral membranes demonstrated the higher affinity of yohimbine and rauwolscine for the [3H] clonidine- than for the [3H]prazosin-specific binding sites. The reverse was found for corynanthine. The relative potencies of yohimbine, rauwolscine and corynanthine in inhibiting these central effects of clonidine are comparable to their order of efficacies in blocking peripheral alpha 2-adrenoceptors. Accordingly, clonidine-induced central hypotension and sedation are mediated by alpha 2-adrenoceptors.