Benzodiazepines attenuate single unit activity in the locus coeruleus

Grant, Steven; Huang, Yung H.; Redmond, D. Eugene

doi:10.1016/0024-3205(80)90389-6

Cited by 155 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 29 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…During states of rest Aghajanian, 1978;Bunney et al, 19751, sleep (Foote et al, 1980), feeding and grooming (Aston-Jones, 1985;Grant and Redmond, 1984;Rasmussen et al, 19861, locus coeruleus neurons discharge in a slow, phasic manner. A variety of novel stimuli have been shown to activate the locus coeruleus in several animal species, including tail compression and pin-prick in the anesthetized rat (Korf et al, 1974;(Cedarbaum and Aghajanian, 1978b;Grant et al, 1980;Korfet al, 1974) pressure on the extremities, immobilization, light flashes and tones in the awake rat (AstonJones and Bloom, 1981a,b;Foote et al, 1980;Korf et al, 1974), clicks, flashes of light, and tail pinches in the awake cat (Rasmussen et al, 19861, and presentation of a preferred food, the appearance of an unfamiliar person (Foote et al, 1980;Grant and Redmond, 1984), pin prick, and restraint in the awake monkey (Aston-Jones, 1985;Grant and Redmond, 1984). These studies show that the locus coeruleus is activated by novel stimuli.…”

Section: Actnation Of the Locus Coeruleus/ Noradrenergic System With mentioning

confidence: 99%

Noradrenergic mechanisms in stress and anxiety: I. preclinical studies

Bremner

Krystal

Southwick

et al. 1996

Synapse

463

164

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

There is considerable preclinical evidence for a relationship between noradrenergic brain systems and behaviors associated with stress and anxiety. The majority of noradrenergic neurons are located in the locus coeruleus (pons), with projections throughout the cerebral cortex and multiple subcortical areas, including hippocampus, amygdala, thalamus, and hypothalamus. This neuroanatomical formation of the noradrenergic system makes it well suited to rapidly and globally modulate brain function in response to changes in the environment, as occurs during the presentation of stressors. Stress exposure is associated with an increase in firing of the locus coeruleus and with associated increased release and turnover of norepinephrine in brain regions which receive noradrenergic innervation. Increased firing of the locus coeruleus is also associated with behavioral manifestations of fear, such as arched back and piloerection in the cat. Exposure to chronic stress results in long‐term alterations in locus coeruleus firing and norepinephrine release in target brain regions of the locus coeruleus. Norepinephrine is also involved in neural mechanisms such as sensitization and fear conditioning, which are associated with stress. These findings are relevant to an understanding of psychiatric disorders, such as panic disorder and post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the symptoms of which have been hypothesized to be related to alterations in noradrenergic function. © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

show abstract

Section: Actnation Of the Locus Coeruleus/ Noradrenergic System With mentioning

confidence: 99%

Noradrenergic mechanisms in stress and anxiety: I. preclinical studies

Bremner

Krystal

Southwick

et al. 1996

Synapse

463

164

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Thus, benzodiaze pines [26,74], morphine [6,39], ethanol [55,75], and clonidine [ 1 ] have all been reported to decrease locus ceruleus firing in animals and reduce anxiety in man. Tolerance to the acute inhibitory effects of morphine [1] and cloni dine [Svensson, pers. commun.]…”

Section: Locus Ceruleus Function and Fearmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fear and Anxiety: Relationship to Noradrenergic Function

et al. 1984

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The experiences of human fear and anxiety are discussed within the context of locus ceruleus function in animals. The rationale for studying correlates of noradrenergic function, such as 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenethylene glycol (MHPG), is reviewed, and data demonstrating a positive correlation between plasma free MHPG and state anxiety in normal volunteers is presented. The behavioral effects of oral caffeine (240–720 mg), intravenous clonidine (2 µg/kg), and oral yohimbine (20 mg) were studied in various psychiatric patients and normal volunteers. Caffeine and yohimbine had anxiogenic properties; conversely, clonidine reduced self-rated measures of anxiety across a wide spectrum of psychiatric conditions. These findings expand previous research indicating that noradrenergic hyperactivity may be associated with many types of human fear and anxiety.

show abstract

“…Diazepam has been widely used as an anxiolytic medication and clonidine has also been found to decrease anxiety (Hoehn-Saric et al 1981). Like clonidine, diazepam can decrease firing of the locus coeruleus (Grant et al 1980), attenuate both basal and stress induced NE release in the mPFC (Rossetti et al 1990), attenuate dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens (Murai et al 1998), and attenuate sensory evoked acetylcholine release in the medial PFC in rodents (Acquas et al 1998). In order to address the possibility that clonidine may be effecting task performance indirectly by altering measures also effected by diazepam, the current study also characterized delayed response performance in young monkeys following diazepam treatment (1.0, 2.0, and 3.0 mg/kg).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%