RESEARCH PAPER |
|
Year : 1994 | Volume
: 26
| Issue : 4 | Page : 292-295 |
Effect of BR-16A on alpha-2 adrenergic, dopamine autoreceptor and dopamine postsynaptic receptor functioning
C Andrade, Raj Tony, HB Udaya, Chandra J Suresh
Correspondence Address:
C Andrade
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |

BR-16A is a herbal preparation with possible neuropsychiatric effects; preclinical work has found it to facilitate cognition and diminish both anterograde and retrograde amnesia induced by electroconvulsive shocks. The present study sought to assess whether BR-16A affects adrenergic and dopaminergic functioning in the brain. Adult, male, Sprague-Dawley rats which received BR-l 6A (200 mg/kg/day) or vehicle for one month were challenged with clonidine (100 (g/kg s.c.), apomorphine (2 mg/kg, 100 (g/kg or 50 (glkg, s.c.) or saline in separate factorial design experiments. Following the challenge, motility of the animals was assessed using a small open field. BR-l 6A did not influence hypomotility induced by clonidine agonism at alpha-2 adrenergic receptors nor by low dose apomorphine agonism at dopamine autoreceptors. However, BR 16A did augment high dose apomorphine-induced dopamine postsynaptic receptor-mediated hypermotility. These results suggest that BR-l6A does not interfere with alpha-2 adrenergic and dopamine autoreceptor functioning, and that it enhances dopamine postsynaptic receptor activity.
[PDF]*
|