Chronic treatment with prazosin causes a subtype-specific increase in the alpha 1-adrenoceptor density of the stressed rat cerebral cortex.

The effects of chronic treatment with prazosin and of immobilization stress on the alpha 1-adrenoceptor subtypes in rat cerebral cortex have been examined. Prazosin-treated rats were allowed free access to tap water containing two different concentrations of prazosin (16 or 156 mg L-1) for 5 weeks. The mean plasma concentrations of prazosin were 5 ng mL-1 in groups treated with a low dose and 8 or 14 ng mL-1 in those treated with a high dose. Immobilization stress (2 h day-1, 2 weeks) or chronic treatment with a low dose of prazosin caused no significant change in the affinity for [3H]prazosin or in the maximum number of alpha 1-adrenoceptor sites (Bmax). However, treatment with prazosin (low dose) combined with stress increased the density of alpha 1-adrenoceptors with low affinity for prazosin. Treatment with a high dose of prazosin increased the density of alpha 1L-adrenoceptors, irrespective of stress loading. The densities of alpha 1A- and alpha 1B-adrenoceptors with high affinity for prazosin were increased only after treatment with a high dose of prazosin in combination with stress. These results indicate that three distinct alpha 1-adrenoceptor subtypes, alpha 1A, alpha 1B and alpha 1L, might be affected differently by treatment with prazosin and by stress.