Dorsal noradrenergic bundle lesions fail to alter opiate withdrawal or suppression of opiate withdrawal by clonidine

Previous work has shown that clonidine effectively supresses many of the signs of opiate withdrawal. The present study was designed to test the hypothesis that the supression of opiate withdrawal by clonidine is mediated by forebrain noradrenergic projections of the locus coeruleus. Two groups of 24 rats each were subjected to either a 6-hydroxydopamine lesion of the dorsal noradrenergic bundle (Lesion group) or a sham, vehicle injection (Sham group). All rats were made dependent on morphine by subcutaneous implantation of one 75 mg silastic morphine pellet for three days followed by 3 more days with two additional 75 mg pellets. Following removal of the morphine pellet, withdrawal was precipitated in all rats by subcutaneous injection of 4 mg/kg of naloxone. Pretreatment 10 min. before withdrawal with clonidine (0.1 or 0.2 mg/kg) produced a significant attenuation of withdrawal signs as compared to saline injected rats; this effect was equally significant in both sham and lesion groups. Lesions of the locus coeruleus had no effect on withdrawal, nor did they affect the ameliorating action of clonidine. These results substantiate the observation that clonidine can effectively attenuate signs of opiate withdrawal in the rat, but fail to support the hypothesis that these effects are mediated by the forebrain projections of the locus coeruleus.     

Neuroadaptive responses in brainstem noradrenergic nucleic following chronic morphine exposure

Opiate dependence and withdrawal involve neuroadaptive responses in the central nervous system. A host of studies have previously implicated the A6 noradrenergic neurons of the pontine nucleus locus coeruleus (LC) as an important mediator of somatic signs observed upon withdrawal from opiates. Recent studies, however, are showing that noradrenergic neurons of the LC may not be solely involved in mediating somatic signs of withdrawal. The A2 noradrenergic neurons of the nucleus of the solitary tract (nucleus tractus solitarius [NTS]) in the caudal brainstem may be another possible site. Neurons in the nucleus paragigantocellularis lateralis (PGi), located in the rostral ventral medulla, which are known to send collateral projections to both the LC and the NTS, may co-modulate both noradrenergic nuclei in a parallel fashion, which may represent an anatomical substrate underlying the behavioral expression of opiate withdrawal. The PGi provides glutamatergic and opioid innervation to LC neurons. Hyperactivity of LC during opiate withdrawal arises, in part, from increased glutamate transmission in this pathway. The authors have recently shown that the excitatory transmitter, glutamate, co-exists with the endogenous opioid peptide, enkephalin, in a subset of axon terminals in the LC. Decreases in endogenous opioids in afferents to LC and NTS, following chronic opiate administration, may be equally important in modulating noradrenergic neurons following chronic opiate exposure, by removing a neurochemical system that would inhibit noradrenergic neurons. A persistent decrease in opioid peptide release from afferents during withdrawal would result in glutamate acting on postsynaptic targets, in an unopposed fashion. A parallel effect in opioid projections from PGi to the NTS would potentially support similar actions in this noradrenergic nucleus. The authors' recent data show that opioid-containing neurons in the PGi project to the NTS, and that enkephalin levels are decreased in opioid afferents to the NTS. This review summarizes data that the authors have collected regarding opioid expression changes in brainstem circuits (PGi-LC and PGi-NTS), following chronic morphine treatment, which may represent a model for understanding of adaptations in endogenous opioid circuits during drug dependence and withdrawal.     

Naltrexone precipitated opiate withdrawal in methadone addicted human subjects: Evidence for noradrenergic hyperactivity

The noradrenergic alpha-2 receptor agonist, clonidine, suppresses many of the effects of opiate withdrawal in both humans and other animals and this is consistent with the data indicating important interactions of opiate and noradrenergic systems in brain. This evidence supports the hypothesis that central noradrenergic hyperactivity is involved in the expression of major signs and symptoms of the opiate withdrawal syndrome, but to date clinical studies have not provided biochemical data consistent with this idea. In order to assess whether naltrexone precipitated opiate withdrawal in methadone addicted human subjects is associated with changes in noradrenergic function, a double-blind study was completed in which 15 methadone-dependent subjects received naltrexone and 8 subjects received placebo. Signs and symptoms of the opiate abstinence syndrome increased significantly in the 15 subjects who received naltrexone compared with the 8 who received placebo. Plasma concentrations of free MHPG also increased significantly in those subjects who took naltrexone compared to the placebo treated subjects. In addition, withdrawal signs and symptoms were significantly correlated with plasma MHPG concentration. Since several compounds which suppress central noradrenergic activity also reduce the severity of the withdrawal syndrome, the noradrenergic hyperactivity suggested by the present clinical study may be a functional mechanism for at least part of the opiate withdrawal syndrome.     

鞘内注射M受体和GDNF反义寡脱氧核苷酸抑制吗啡戒断大鼠蓝斑c—Fos表达

The antisense approach and immunohistochemistry were used to study the effects of different muscarinic receptor (M) subtypes and glial cell derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) on the scores of morphine-withdrawal syndrome and the expression of c-Fos in locus coeruleus (LC). Intrathecal injection of M2 receptor antisense oligonucleotides (M2AS-oligo) or GDNF antisense oligonucleotides (GDNFAS-oligo) decreased the scores of morphine withdrawal syndrome. The expression of c-Fos positive neurons in the LC increased in morphine-dependent rats and increased to a greater extent after the injection of naloxone (4mg/kg, ip) in morphine dependent rats. Intrathecal injection of M2AS-oligo or GDNFAS-oligo inhibited the increase of c-Fos expression in LC during morphine withdrawal, but there was no effect in case of M1AS-oligo. The results suggest that M2 receptor of spinal cord mediates the neural activation of LC during morphine withdrawal. And the interaction between neurons and glial cells may be involved in the ascending activation process.     

鞘内注射M受体和GDNF反义寡脱氧核苷酸抑制吗啡戒断大鼠蓝斑c-Fos表达

应用免疫组化方法观察鞘内注射毒蕈碱型乙酰胆碱(muscarinic acetylcholine receptor,M) 受体和胶质细胞源性神经营养因子(glial cell derived neurotrophic factor,GDNF)反义寡脱氧核苷酸对吗啡戒断大鼠蓝斑(locus coeruleus,LC)区内Fos表达的影响。结果显示,鞘内注射M_2受体和GDNF反义寡脱氧核苷酸明显减少大鼠吗啡戒断症状评分值(n=6,P<0.05)。正常大鼠LC区神经元Fos基础表达较低,吗啡依赖大鼠LC区神经元Fos表达增加,吗啡依赖大鼠纳酪酮(4mg/Kg,ip)催促戒断后,Fos表达进一步增加;鞘内注射M_2受体和GDNF反义寡脱氧核苷酸处理后均减少吗啡戒断大鼠LC区神经元Fos表达(n=5,P<0.05)。而鞘内注射M_1受体反义寡脱氧核苷酸处理组LC 区神经元Fos表达较吗啡戒断组没有显著差异(n=5,P>O.05)。结果提示:脊髓M_2受体调节吗啡戒断时LC区的神经元激活,而这种神经上行性激活涉及神经元与胶质细胞之间的适应性调节。     

Clonidine Prevents Methylxanthine Stimulation of Norepinephrine Metabolism in Rat Brain

Methylxanthines can produce behavior resembling opiate withdrawal in rats. Since previous studies have demonstrated the involvement of central noradrenergic systems during naloxone-precipitated withdrawal, the effects of 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX) on norepinephrine metabolism in rat brain were studied. It was found that administration of IBMX elevated levels of the major norepinephrine metabolite 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG) in areas innervated by the locus coeruleus. The increases in MHPG was noted 1 h after administration and was maximal (270% of control) after 3 h. Levels of another norepinephrine metabolite, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylglycol, followed a similar pattern and time course. Coadministration of naloxone with IBMX did not affect the IBMX-induced elevation in MHPG. Administration of the alpha-agonist clonidine, however, antagonized the effects of IBMX on MHPG levels. The effects of IBMX and clonidine were dose dependent; the lowest dose of IBMX needed to elevate MHPG was 30 mumol/kg (i.p.), and clonidine (180 nmol/kg) reduced the effect of IBMX (100 mumol/kg) by 50%. The data, discussed in terms of a methylxanthine-noradrenergic interaction, suggest that withdrawal behaviors in general may be subserved by hyperactive noradrenergic neurons.     

Benzodiazepines attenuate single unit activity in the locus coeruleus

Several classes of anxiolytic compounds have the common effect of decreasing the firing of noradrenergic neurons or attenuating the post- synaptic effects of noradrenergic activity. In order to determine whether the benzodiazepines, the most widely used anxiolytics, also decrease noradrenergic activity, the effect of acute intravenous injections of diazepam (0.1–2.0 mg/kg) and chlordiazepoxide (0.5–4.0 mg/kg) were administered to anesthetized rats while spontaneous activity of single neurons in the principal noradrenergic nucleus, the locus coeruleus, was recorded. Diazepam and chlordiazepoxide decreased spontaneous single unit activity in the locus coeruleus at relatively low doses. This net effect on noradrenergic systems is consistent with the actions of several classes of nonbenzodiazepine anxiolytics, and with the involvement of noradrenergic systems in the neural mechanisms of anxiety.     

Comparison of the effect of morphine on locus coeruleus noradrenergic and ventral tegmental area dopaminergic neurons in vitro

Extracellular single-cell recordings were performed on rat brain slices to compare the effects of morphine on noradrenergic neurons of the locus coeruleus (LC) and on dopaminergic neurons of the ventral tegmental area (VTA). Morphine inhibited the firing of LC neurons at very low concentrations. The mean IC50 was 13.4 +/- 1nM (mean +/- SEM) (n = 7). Moreover, the inhibitory effect of morphine was identical in slices obtained from rats anesthetized with chloral hydrate or from non-anesthetized rats. On the contrary, morphine did not have any influence on the firing of most VTA neurons (N = 20) up to 100 microM, and did not modify the sensitivity of their autoreceptors (N = 8). It is concluded that morphine potently inhibits the firing of LC neurons in vitro both in slices of anesthetized and not anesthetized animals and has no direct excitatory effect on VTA dopaminergic neurons of the rat.     

Net effect of acute administration of desipramine on the locus coeruleus - hippocampal system.

The tricyclic antidepressant drug desipramine (DMI) produces multiple effects on noradrenergic nervous systems. This study attempted to determine the net outcome of these effects by evaluating the firing rate of noradrenergic postsynaptic neurons. Hippocampal pyramidal cells inhibited by stimulation of the nucleus locus coeruleus were used as noradrenergic postsynaptic neurons. An intraperitoneal injection of DMI (5 or 10 mg/kg) inhibited 14 of 23 cells studied and an intravenous injection (0.3 or 0.6 mg/kg) supressed 16 of 16 cells studied. The inhibition was pronounced and lasted 18 min (i.p.) or 8 min (i.v.). It was blocked by either locus coeruleus lesions or pretreatment with reserpine and α-methyl-p-tyrosine, which suggests that the inhibition was mediated by norepinephrine. These results indicate that the net effect of DMI on noradrenergic systems is facilitation.     

Potentiation by naltrexone of d-amphetamine-induced behavioral suppression and its reversal by clonidine

Rats were trained to perform a fixed ratio-15 operant for food reinforcement during a 30 minute daily session. Naltrexone, in doses up to 45 mg/kg administered 15 min before the behavioral session, failed to disrupt responding. However, 0.3 and 1.0 mg naltrexone/kg produced a dose related potentiation of the operant behavioral suppression induced by 1.0 mg d-amphetamine/kg injected immediately before the session. The naltrexone/d-amphetamine combination also produced excessive salivation and postural abnormalities not seen when either drug was administered alone. [A subsequent study indicated that the salivation induced by naltrexone in combination with d-amphetamine may require previous exposure to naltrexone and/or d-amphetamine.] Blockade of dopamine receptors with pimozide did not modify the interaction. Functional noradrenergic blockade with a low dose of clonidine significantly reversed the potentiated suppression, of operant behavior, as well as the excessive salivation and abnormal posture. These data suggest that there is an important noradrenergic component to the interaction of naltrexone with d-amphetamine. The impressive interaction of behaviorally inactive doses of naltrexone with a moderate dose of d-amphetamine reported here for rats may have clinical implications for detoxified opiate addicts maintained on naltrexone in antagonist therapy programs.     

Depression of Mesolimbic Dopamine Transmission and Sensitization to Morphine During Opiate Abstinence

To investigate the role of mesolimbic dopamine (DA) in the mechanism of drug dependence, extracellular DA was monitored by transcerebral dialysis in the caudal nucleus accumbens under basal conditions and after challenge with morphine (5 mg/kg s.c.) in control rats and in rats made dependent on and then deprived of morphine. Withdrawal from morphine resulted in a marked reduction of extracellular DA concentrations from control values at 1, 2, 3, and 5 days of withdrawal. After 7 days of withdrawal, DA output was less, but still significantly, reduced. Challenge with morphine resulted in stimulation of DA output in controls (maximum, 35%), no effect on the first day of withdrawal, and stimulation similar to controls' on days 2 and 7 of withdrawal. On day 5 and, particularly, on day 3 of withdrawal, morphine-induced stimulation of DA output was markedly potentiated (maximum, 100 and 160%, respectively). Changes in the sensitivity of DA transmission to morphine challenge were associated with changes in the behavioral stimulant effects of morphine, with tolerance on day 1 and marked sensitization on days 3 and 5 but also on day 7, when morphine-induced stimulation of transmission was no longer potentiated. The results indicate that repeated morphine administration induces a state of dependence in DA neurons and a short-lasting tolerance followed by an increased sensitivity to its stimulant effects on DA transmission. These changes might play an important role in the development of opiate addiction and in the maintenance of opiate self-administration in dependent subjects.     

Morphine withdrawal causes subsensitivity of adrenergic receptor response

To determine whether the hyperactivity of noradrenergic neurons that occurs during opiate withdrawal might be associated with a reciprocal alteration in noradrenergic receptor response, isoproterenol-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity was examined in the cerebella of morphine-addicted monkeys at two time periods: a) prior to withdrawal, and b) during late withdrawal. Compared to controls, the chronically-addicted group showed a significant increase in maximal enzyme velocity, a finding consistent with the observed hypoactivity of noradrenergic neurons which occurs during opiate administration. In contrast, the morphine withdrawal group demonstrated a significant decrease in enzyme activity. Piperoxan, known to mimic the effects of withdrawal in causing noradrenergic hyperactivity, also decreased enzyme activity. In no group was there a change in K_a for isoproterenol. These findings, indicating that opiate withdrawal is associated with a subsensitivity of noradrenergic receptor response, suggest a possible etiology for certain of the physiological changes of noradrenergic hypoactivity seen during the secondary (or protracted) abstinence syndrome.     

Effects of cocaine on the electrical activity of single noradrenergic neurons from locus coeruleus

The effects of intravenous (i.v.) cocaine HCl on single identified spontaneously firing noradrenergic neurons in the nucleus locus coeruleus (LC) were studied in rats in vivo. Cocaine (0.25-1 mg/kg) produced inhibition of spontaneously firing LC neurons, which was reversed by the administration of the selective alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonist, piperoxane (250 micrograms/kg, i.v.). Procaine, a local anesthetic that is structurally related to cocaine, did not inhibit LC neurons in doses up to 4 mg/kg, i.v. These results suggest that cocaine in low doses has significant central sympathomimetic effects at the single noradrenergic neuron level and that the inhibition of spontaneous activity may be mediated by alpha 2-adrenoceptors. Our results also indicate that cocaine in pharmacologically relevant doses, can significantly affect central alpha 2-adrenoceptor regulatory processes.     

Withdrawal and bidirectional cross-withdrawal responses in rats treated with adenosine agonists and morphine

The aim of this study was to investigate whether the A1/A2 receptor agonist, 5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (NECA), and the selective A1 agonist, N6-cyclopentyladenosine (CPA), induced physical dependence by quantifying specific antagonist-precipitated withdrawal syndromes in conscious rats. In addition, the presence of bidirectional cross-withdrawal was also investigated. The agonists were administered s.c. to groups of rats at 12 h intervals. Antagonists were administered s.c., 12 hours after the last dose, followed by observation and measurement of faecal output for 20 min. NECA (4 x 0.03 mg kg(-1), s.c) and CPA (4 x 0.03, 0.1 and 0.3 mg kg(-1), s.c.) induced physical dependence, as shown by the expression of a significant withdrawal syndrome when challenged with the adenosine A1/A2 receptor antagonist, 3,7-dimethyl-1-propargylxanthine (DMPX, 0.1 mg kg(-1), s.c.) and the A1 antagonist, 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine (CPDPX, 0.1 mg kg(-1), s.c.) respectively. The syndromes consisted of teeth chattering and shaking behaviours shown to occur in morphine-dependent animals withdrawn with naloxone viz, paw, body and 'wet-dog' shakes, but with the additional behaviours of head shaking and yawning. In further contrast to the opiate withdrawal syndrome, no diarrhoea occurred in the groups of animals treated with adenosine agonists and withdrawn with their respective antagonists. Bidirectional cross-withdrawal syndromes were also revealed when naloxone (3 mg kg(-1), s.c.) was administered to adenosine agonist pre-treated rats and adenosine antagonists were given to morphine pre-treated rats. This study provides further information illustrating that close links exist between the adenosine and opiate systems.     

Effects of morphine withdrawal on catecholaminergic neurons on heart right ventricle; implication of dopamine receptors.

The purpose of our study was to examine the effects of D1-and D2-dopamine receptors blockade on the changes in the ventricular content of catecholamines in rats withdrawn from morphine. Rats were given morphine by subcutaneous (s.c.) implantation of morphine pellets for 5 days. On the eighth day, morphine withdrawal was induced by s.c. administration of naloxone (1 mg/kg), and rats were killed 30 min later. Pretreatment with SCH 23390 (dopamine D1, D5 receptor antagonist) 15 min prior to naloxone administration suppressed some the behavioural signs of morphine withdrawal, whereas eticlopride (dopamine D2, D3, D4 receptor antagonist) did not. In addition, biochemical analysis indicate that SCH 23390 completely abolished the withdrawal-induced increase in noradrenaline and dopamine turnover in the right ventricle. By contrast, eticlopride did not block the hyperactivity of catecholaminergic neurons in the heart during morphine withdrawal. These data suggest that the hyperactivity of catecholaminergic neurons in the heart during morphine withdrawal is dependent upon D1 dopamine receptor activation. In addition, our results exclude the involvement of D2 dopamine receptors.     

Naloxone-precipitated morphine withdrawal increases pontine glutamate levels in the rat

Extracellular fluid (ECF) levels of glutamate (Glu) and aspartate (Asp) were measured in the locus coeruleus (LC) during morphine withdrawal by using microdialysis in conscious morphine-dependent Sprague-Dawley rats. Guide cannulae were implanted chronically and rats were given intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) infussions of morphine (26 nmol/1 μl/ht) of saline (1 μl/hr) for 3 days. Microdialysis probes (2 mm tip) were inserted into the LC 24 hr before precipitation of withdrawal by i.c.v. injection of naloxone (12 or 48 nmol/5 μl). Behavioral evidence of withdrawal (teeth-chattering, wet-dog shakes, etc.) was detected following naloxone challenge in morphine, but not in saline-infused rats. Increases (P<0.01) in ECF levels of Glu (and Asp, to a lesser degree) were noted after naloxone-precipitated withdrawal only in the morphine group. The ECF Glu levels in the LC increased from 9.6 ± 2.7 to 15.5 ± 5.0 μM following 12 nmol/5 μl naloxone, and from 9.5 ± 1.9 to 20.5 ± 3.3 μM following 48 nmol/5 μl naloxone, before and in the first 15 min sample after the precipitation of withdrawal in the morphine-dependent rats, respectively. These results provide direct evidence to support the role of excitatory amino acids within the LC in morphine withdrawal.     

Modulation of naloxone-precipitated morphine withdrawal syndromes in rats by neuropeptide FF analogs

Neuropeptide FF (NPFF) has been reported to be an endogenous anti-opioid peptide that has significant effects on morphine tolerance and dependence. In the present study, we examined the chronic effects of NPFF and its synthetic analogs: the putative agonist, PFRFamide, and the putative antagonists, dansyl-PQRamide and PFR(Tic)amide on naloxone-precipitated morphine withdrawal syndromes in rats. After a 5-day co-administration with morphine [5 mg/kg, intraperitoneally (i.p.), twice per day (b.i.d.)] and the tested peptide [intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) or i.p., b.i.d.], naloxone (4 mg/kg, i.p.) was given systemically to evaluate the severity of the morphine withdrawal syndromes. Our results revealed that NPFF significantly potentiated the overall morphine withdrawal syndromes and, on the contrary, dansyl-PQRamide attenuated these syndromes. These results clearly indicate that modulation of the NPFF system in the mammalian central nervous system has significant effects on opiate dependence. In addition, morphine withdrawal syndromes could be practically applied as a valid parameter to functionally characterize the putative NPFF agonists and antagonists.     

Wild ginseng attenuates anxiety- and depression-like behaviors during morphine withdrawal

The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether wild ginseng (WG) administration could attenuate anxiety- and depression-like behaviors and expression of corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) and neuropeptide Y (NPY) following withdrawal from repeated morphine administration in rats. Male rats were administered daily doses of WG (50, 100, or 200 mg/kg, i.p.) for 5 days, 30 min before morphine injection (40 mg/kg, s.c). The anxiety- and depression-like behavioral responses were measured 72 h after the last morphine injection using an elevated plus maze (EPM) and forced swimming test (FST), respectively. Changes in hypothalamic CRF and NPY expressions were also examined by analyzing their immunoreactivities in the hypothalamus. Daily administration of WG significantly reduced anxiety-and depression-like behavior, and elicited the suppression of CRF expression and the stimulation of NPY expression in the hypothalamus. Our results demonstrated that WG extract might be effective at inhibiting the anxiety and depression responses due to morphine withdrawal by possibly modulating the hypothalamus CRF and NPY systems. Furthermore, these findings imply that WG extract can be used for developing new medication to cure or alleviate morphine withdrawal symptoms and to prevent relapses of morphine use.     

In vivo catechol activity in the rat locus coeruleus following different nociceptive stimuli and naloxone.

The nucleus locus coeruleus (LC) has been implicated in the processing of spinal reflexes following noxious stimuli. It has been demonstrated that noxious stimuli activate LC neuronal firing, but little is known about the neurochemical changes that might occur following such activation. To determine the effects of different noxious stimuli on LC neuronal activity, anaesthetized rats were exposed to mechanical (tail pinch), thermal (55 degrees C water), and chemical (5% Formalin injected in the hind paw) stimuli; the catechol oxidation current (CA.OC), an index of noradrenergic neuronal activity, in the locus coeruleus was monitored using differential normal pulse voltammetry. In addition, the effect of the opioid antagonist naloxone on the CA.OC in the LC was examined. Exposure to both mechanical and chemical stimuli significantly increased CA.OC indicating an increase in LC noradrenergic neuronal activity, while the thermal stimulus had no effect. Treatment with naloxone (1 mg/kg i.v.) had no effect on CA.OC in the LC. The results show a differential responsiveness of LC noradrenergic neurons to different modes of noxious stimuli and fail to demonstrate a tonic opioid regulation of these neurons in the anaesthetized rat.     

Effects of chlordiazepoxide on footshock- and corticotropin-releasing factor-induced increases in cortical and hypothalamic norepinephrine secretion in rats

Noradrenergic and corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) neuronal systems within the brain have been implicated in stress and anxiety. Synaptic release of cerebral norepinephrine (NE) is increased during stress, and following intracerebral CRF administration. Benzodiazepines are commonly used anxiolytic drugs but information on their effects on the stress- and CRF-related release of NE is limited. We have used in vivo microdialysis to test the effects of the benzodiazepine, chlordiazepoxide (CDP) on the noradrenergic responses to footshock and intracerebroventricular CRF in the medial hypothalamus and the medial prefrontal cortex (PFM) of freely moving rats. Footshock (60 x 0.1-0.2 mA shocks in 20 min) significantly increased microdialysate concentrations of NE in the first sample collected after initiating the footshock. In the hypothalamus, microdialysate NE was augmented 64% above baseline. A second footshock session (100 min after the first footshock) increased microdialysate NE to 313% of the baseline. Thus the noradrenergic responses to footshock were enhanced by preceding footshocks. CRF (100 ng) administered into the locus coeruleus (LC) almost tripled microdialysate concentrations of NE in the PFM. CDP (5mg/kg, i.p.) had no statistically significant effects on the basal dialysate concentrations of NE, but it significantly attenuated both footshock- and CRF-induced increases in dialysate NE. CDP may exert a direct inhibitory effect on the noradrenergic neurons, alter the input to LC noradrenergic neurons, or alter the ability of CRF to activate the LC noradrenergic system.