Alpha- and beta-adrenoceptors on cultured glial cells
Hösli, L.; Hösli, E.; Zehntner, C.; Lehmann, R.; Lutz, T.W.
Advances in Biochemical Psychopharmacology 37: 417-420
1983
ISSN/ISBN: 0065-2229 PMID: 6314767 Document Number: 216665
The action of alpha- and beta-adrenoceptor agonists and antagonists has been studied on the membrane potential of glial cells in cultured rat central nervous system. Noradrenaline and the alpha-agonist phenylephrine caused a depolarization which was reversibly blocked by the alpha-antagonist phentolamine. In contrast, the beta-agonist isoprenaline hyperpolarized the glial membrane. This hyperpolarization was not associated with measurable changes in membrane resistance and was antagonized by the beta-blocker atenolol. These results suggest that the glial depolarization is mediated by activation of alpha-receptors, whereas the hyperpolarization is due to stimulation of beta-receptors. The existence of alpha- and beta-adrenoceptors on glial cells is further supported by autoradiographic studies showing binding of noradrenaline and alpha- and beta-antagonists to astrocytes.