Clonidine-induced hypoactivity and mydriasis in mice are respectively mediated via pre- and postsynaptic alpha 2-adrenoceptors in the brain.

Since brain alpha 2-adrenoceptors occur both pre- and postsynaptically, experiments were carried out to determine the synaptic locations of those receptors mediating clonidine-induced hypoactivity and mydriasis. Intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of clonidine (1-3000 micrograms/kg) to mice dose dependently induced these two responses and also decreased brain concentrations of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG). The ED50 values were: 120 micrograms/kg for hypoactivity (95% confidence limits 103-140 micrograms/kg), 54 micrograms/kg for mydriasis (95% confidence limits 40-74 micrograms/kg) and 18 micrograms/kg for MHPG reduction (95% confidence limits 8-36 micrograms/kg) suggesting that these responses could all be presynaptically mediated. However, methamphetamine which increases noradrenaline turnover was found to dose dependently produce mydriasis, but not hypoactivity, after peripheral (0.1-5 mg/kg i.p.) or central (0.5-10 micrograms i.c.v.) injection. The mydriasis produced by methamphetamine (0.5 mg/kg i.p.) was abolished by i.c.v. injection of 1 micrograms idazoxan or yohimbine, but not 2.5 micrograms prazosin or pindolol, showing this effect was mediated by central alpha 2-adrenoceptors. Methamphetamine (1-10 micrograms i.c.v.) potentiated the mydriasis induced by clonidine (50 micrograms/kg i.p.) suggesting this was a postsynaptic alpha 2-adrenoceptor response. By contrast, methamphetamine (1-10 micrograms i.c.v.) dose dependently reversed clonidine (100 micrograms/kg i.p.) hypoactivity indicating this response was mediated by presynaptic alpha 2-adrenoceptors. These hypotheses were confirmed by destruction of noradrenergic neurones using DSP-4 (100 mg/kg i.p. x 2). This treatment prevented the mydriasis response to methamphetamine (0.5 mg/kg i.p.), but not clonidine (100 micrograms/kg i.p.) and markedly attenuated clonidine (100 micrograms/kg i.p.) hypoactivity.