Correlations between the hypothalamic density of 3H-clonidine-binding sites and plasma testosterone levels in mice

Neuroendocrinology. 1995 Jun;61(6):663-8. doi: 10.1159/000126893.

Abstract

Correlations between the specific binding of radiolabelled adrenoligands in frontal cortex and hypothalamus, and plasma testosterone levels were investigated in inbred mouse strains. Binding values were structure and genotype dependent. There were significant negative intrastrain and interstrain correlations between hypothalamic binding of 3H-clonidine, an imidazoline with alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonist specificity, and resting testosterone levels. Neither binding of the alpha 1-adrenoceptor antagonist 3H-prazosin nor of the beta-adrenoceptor antagonist 3H-dihydroalprenolol (DHA) correlated significantly with hormone concentrations. The inverse correlation between hypothalamic 3H-clonidine-binding and plasma testosterone levels suggests a possible role of alpha 2-adrenoceptors in the negative regulation of testosterone plasma levels.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adrenergic alpha-2 Receptor Agonists
  • Animals
  • Binding Sites / drug effects
  • Clonidine / metabolism*
  • Clonidine / pharmacology
  • Dihydroalprenolol
  • Hypothalamus / metabolism*
  • Kinetics
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred A
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Inbred CBA
  • Prazosin / metabolism
  • Prefrontal Cortex / drug effects
  • Prefrontal Cortex / metabolism
  • Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2 / metabolism*
  • Testosterone / blood*

Substances

  • Adrenergic alpha-2 Receptor Agonists
  • Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2
  • Testosterone
  • Dihydroalprenolol
  • Clonidine
  • Prazosin