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PubMed2005

Effects of 25 mT static magnetic field on blood pressure in reserpine-induced hypotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats.

We investigated the interrelated antihypotensive effects of static magnetic fields (SMF) and plasma catecholamine levels in reserpine-induced hypotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats. Seven-week-old male rats were exposed to two different ranges of SMF intensities, 3.0-10 mT (Bmax) or 7.5-25 mT (Bmax) for 12 weeks. Six experimental groups of 10 animals each were examined: (1) no exposure with intraperitoneal (ip) saline injection (sham exposed control); (2) 10 mT SMF exposure with ip saline injection (10 mT); (3) 25 mT SMF exposure with ip saline injection (25 mT); (4) no exposure with ip reserpine injection (RES); (5) 10 mT SMF exposure with ip reserpine injection (10 mT + RES); (6) 25 mT SMF exposure with ip reserpine injection (25 mT + RES). Reserpine (5 mg/kg) was administered three times a week for 12 weeks, and 18 h after each injection, arterial blood pressure (BP), heart rate, skin blood flow, plasma nitric oxide metabolites, plasma catecholamine levels, and behavioral parameters of a functional observational battery (FOB) were monitored. The action of reserpine significantly decreased BP, reduced plasma norepinephrine (NE), increased the FOB hunched posture score and decreased the number of rearing events in the RES group, compared with the respective age-matched control group. Exposure to 25 mT, but not 10 mT, for 2-12 weeks significantly prevented the reserpine-induced decrease of BP in the 25 mT + RES group compared with the respective RES group. Moreover, exposure to 25 mT for 5 weeks partially suppressed the reserpine-induced NE reduction, but did not bring about a complete reversal of reserpine effects. NE levels for the 25 mT + RES group for 5 weeks were significantly higher compared with the RES group, but still lower compared with the control group. In addition, the FOB hunched posture score for the 25 mT + RES group was significantly lower and the number of rearing events was higher compared with the RES group, but these behavioral parameters did not revert to control levels. There were no significant differences in any of the physiological or behavioral parameters measured between the 10 mT + RES and RES groups, nor between the two different SMF groups and the control group. These results indicate that 25 mT SMF with spatial gradients significantly suppressed the reserpine-induced hypotension and bradykinesia. The antihypotensive effects of SMF on the reserpine-treated group might be at least partially related to the inhibition of NE depletion.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Possible explanations for the antagonism by nicotine against reserpine-induced depletion of monoamines in mouse brain.

The inhibitory effect of nicotine pretreatment on reserpine-induced depletion of monoamines in mouse brain was investigated. The depletion of brain monoamines by 24 h after intraperitoneal injection of reserpine (2 mg/kg) was dose-dependently inhibited by nicotine (0.3-10 mg/kg, s.c.) pretreatment 20 min before reserpine injection. This effect of nicotine was more marked on dopamine depletion than on noradrenaline or 5-hydroxytryptamine depletion. The nicotine pretreatment also inhibited the reserpine-induced hypothermia and decrease in the locomotor activity. When reserpine (2 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally, the inhibitory effect of nicotine (3 mg/kg, s.c.) on the reserpine-induced depletion of brain monoamines and heart noradrenaline was not antagonized by hexamethonium (8 mg/kg, s.c.) but rather potentiated by mecamylamine (2 mg/kg, s.c.). However, when reserpine (0.5 mg/kg) was injected intravenously, pretreatment with nicotine (3 mg/kg, s.c.) inhibited the reserpine-induced dopamine depletion only, and this effect of nicotine was completely blocked by mecamylamine but not by hexamethonium. These results suggest that inhibitory effect of nicotine on the intraperitoneal reserpine-induced depletion of brain monoamines is due to an inhibition of absorption of reserpine, and that central nicotinic action is also involved in the antagonism by nicotine of reserpine-induced dopamine depletion.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

On the formation of adrenergic amine storage granules as measured by reserpine labeling.

Reserpine appears to be bound specifically and irreversibly to amine storage granules in the adrenergic neuron. The presence of reserpine persistently attached to amine granule should reflect the life span of the vesicles, and any additional binding of reserpine should then measure the rate of appearance of newly formed amine granules. Measurement of the persistent binding of tritiated reserpine (3H-Reserpine) in hearts of rats given labeled compound at various times after a saturating dose of unlabeled reserpine showed that the recovery of 3H-reserpine binding capacity occurred rapidly. Four days after reserpine the 3H-reserpine binding was 30% of control rats. The rate of return of binding capacity was then slowed being 65% of normal in 24 days. Calculation of the mean daily increment of binding capacity showed that the rate was an inverse linear function of the binding capacitu existing in the neurone at an early phase (1--8 days) but became constant at a later interval (8--24 days). It is suggested that the return of reserpine binding capacity reflects the appearance of new storage granules and that the rate of storage granule synthesis in the cell body is under feedback control. The signal for enhanced granule formation does not appear to be related to the intensity of nerve traffic not to the concentration of transmitter in the neuron since manaeuvers which alter these parameters did not change the rate of reserpine binding recovery.

Amines↗
PubMed1979

Reduction by reserpine of the accumulation of retrogradely transported [125I]nerve growth factor in sympathetic neurons.

Experiments were carried out to determine if stimuli which augment preganglionic nerve activity to sympathetic neurons, and thereby cause trans-synaptic induction, increase the retrograde transport of nerve growth factor (NGF). It was found that nerve activity had no effect on retrograde transport of [125I]NGF. It was found, however, that reserpine decreased retrograde transport of [125I]NGF and this inhibition was characterized. Reserpine decreased the maximal accumulation of intravenously administered [125I]NGF in superior cervical ganglia (SCG) by about 60%. It also caused a distinct shift in the time course of accumulation so that maximal accumulation was seen 12 h after [125I]NGF injection rather than at 9 h as in control animals. Reserpine had no effect on retrograde transport in sensory neurons. Dose--response curves showed that maximal inhibition occurred with doses of reserpine of 2.5 mg/kg i.p. and that reserpine was not able to completely block transport at any dose. The maximal inhibition of retrograde transport was achieved within 30 min of reserpine administration and inhibitory activity was unchanged for 36 h. The ability of sympathetic neurons to transport [125I]NGF subsequently recovered and was normal 96 h after reserpine administration. The inhibitory effect of reserpine appears to be due to an action at or very near to the nerve terminal since it was effective at reducing NGF transport at very low doses (0.33 microgram) when co-administered directly into the eye with [125I]NGF. An action of reserpine at the nerve terminal was further suggested by the inability of reserpine to affect transport if the drug was given 4 h after [125I]NGF administration. Based upon these data, it is suggested that there may be two pools of retrogradely transported NGF and that only more rapidly turning over pool is reserpine-sensitive. This pool may represent the retrogradely moving synaptic vesicles or some derivative of the vesicles.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Depletion and recovery of catecholamines in several organs of rats treated with reserpine.

Chemical sympathectomy with reserpine depletes catecholamines in every neuronal or nonneuronal cell producing a nonspecific temporal sympathectomy. After reserpine administration, most of the drug is distributed to tissues based on their blood flow and would then either be metabolized or be reversibly bound in lipid depots from where it might be released. Consequently, reserpine concentration and the catecholamine-depleting effect in the various tissues are expected to differ according to the route of administration. This study was designed to compare the effects of intraperitoneal (i.p.) and subcutaneous (s.c.) administration of reserpine on catecholamine depletion and recovery in the liver, portal vein, and adrenal gland on days 1, 4, and 10 after reserpine dosage. Catecholamine determinations were extended to 25 days after the treatment only in s.c. reserpine-treated rats and adding samples of heart and brown adipose tissue to the testing. I.p. and s.c. reserpine administration had the same norepinephrine-depleting effect in the portal vein and liver but full recovery was present in both tissues only in i.p. reserpine-treated rats. In the adrenal gland, both routes of administration produced the same depleting and recovery effect of norepinephrine and epinephrine concentrations. A significant temporary overshoot in epinephrine levels was observed several days after s.c. reserpine treatment. Except for the liver, reserpine injected s.c. depleted norepinephrine concentrations significantly in all other tissues up to the end of the experiment. Our results suggest that chemical sympathectomy caused by reserpine administered s.c. produces a generalized and prolonged decrease in peripheral sympathetic activity that could be compensated by an increase in activity of the adrenal gland.

Adipose Tissue, Brown↗
PubMed2002

Behavioral effects of MK-801 on reserpine-treated mice.

The effects of dizocilpine (MK-801), a noncompetitive N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, were studied on dopamine-related behaviors induced by reserpine treatments. This study focuses on behavioral syndromes that may used as models for Parkinson's disease, or tardive dyskinesia, and its response after glutamatergic blockage. Reserpine (1 mg/kg), administered once every other day for 4 days, produced increases in orofacial dyskinesia, tongue protrusion and vacuous chewing in mice, which are signs indicative of tardive dyskinesia. Reserpine also produced tremor and catalepsy, which are signs suggestive of Parkinson's disease. MK-801 (0.1 mg/kg), administered 30 min before the observation test, prevented the vacuous chewing movements, tongue protrusions and catalepsy induced by reserpine. However, MK-801 injection produced a significant increase of tremor in reserpine-treated mice. Reserpine (1 mg/kg), administered 90 min before the test and followed by apomophine injection (0.1 mg/kg) 5 min before the test, did not produce oral dyskinesia in mice. On the other hand, reserpine induced increases in tremor and catalepsy compared to control mice. MK-801 (0.1 mg/kg) administration attenuated the catalepsy and tremor induced by reserpine. Pretreatment with reserpine (1 mg/kg) 24 h before the observation test produced increases in vacuous chewing movements and tongue protrusion, as well as increases in tremor and catalepsy, whereas MK-801 (0.1 mg/kg) injection 90 min before the test reversed the effects of reserpine. These results show that reserpine produces different and abnormal movements, which are related to dose and schedule employed and can be considered as parkinsonian-like and tardive dsykinesia signs. The glutamatergic blockage produced by NMDA can restore these signs, such as vacuous chewing movements, tongue protrusions, catalepsy and tremor according to the employed model.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Alterations of amylase secretion in the chronically reserpinized rat: an acetylcholine-mediated phenomenon.

Chronic reserpine treatment of animals, an experimental model for cystic fibrosis (CF), results in generalized exocrinopathy, impaired secretion, and decreased pancreatic content of amylase. However, the mechanisms of altered acinar pancreatic function in both CF patients and reserpine-treated rats are still unknown. The present study was designed to investigate the secretory response of the rat pancreas after reserpine treatment. Rats were given reserpine (1 mg kg-1 day-1 ip) or vehicle, and killed 2, 4, or 7 days later. To distinguish between specific effects of reserpine and those related to secondary malnutrition caused by the drug, secretory response of a group of pair-fed animals to reserpine was also investigated. During reserpine treatment, body weight and food intake were significantly reduced from the 2nd day on. Amylase release from dispersed pancreatic acini, prepared from control pair-fed and from reserpine-treated rats were used to evaluate functional secretory capacity. After 7 days, both chronic reserpine and pair-feeding significantly decreased pancreatic amylase concentration to 75 and 50% of controls, respectively. Reserpine caused desensitization of the pancreatic acini secretory response to carbamylcholine, without altering maximal amylase release. Desensitization occurred gradually and reached a maximum after 7 days. Secretory responses to caerulein and to the phorbol ester 12.0-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13 acetate (TPA) were not altered. These findings indicate that desensitization of amylase release after reserpine was specific to this muscarinic agonist. It may result from increased endogenous acetylcholine release in the course of treatment.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1983

Reserpine has a direct action as a calcium antagonist on mammalian smooth muscle cells.

The effects of reserpine on excitation-contraction coupling and 45Ca exchange of smooth muscle cells of the rabbit ear artery and the guinea-pig taenia coli have been studied. Reserpine inhibited the spontaneous mechanical activity of the taenia coli and the force development induced by 59 mM-external K or 10(-5) M-carbachol. In the ear artery reserpine blocked the K-induced contraction but its effect on the contraction elicited by noradrenaline was smaller. At 0.2 mM-Ca, the inhibition of the tonic component of the noradrenaline-induced contraction was more pronounced than that of the phasic component. This reserpine action was fully reversible for the noradrenaline stimulus in the ear artery but less so for K-induced contractions. The inhibitory action on contractions induced in taenia coli by K-rich solution and by carbachol was even less reversible. The analysis of the effect of reserpine on the 45Ca exchange in the ear artery has revealed that it inhibits the increase of the fractional loss induced by K depolarization, but that it does not exert a significant effect on the increased fractional loss induced by 10(-5) M-noradrenaline. Reserpine slows down the filling with 45Ca of the agonist-sensitive store without affecting the steady-state amount of Ca taken up by the store. A study of the degree of filling of the store by measuring the force development and the 45Ca release elicited by noradrenaline in Ca-free medium, reveals that the force development after loading in a reserpine-containing medium remains less than the control, although the same amount of Ca is released from the store. It was shown by using tetrabenazine that the inhibitory action of reserpine on the Ca exchange and the force development is not due to an interaction of reserpine with the receptor molecules that are responsible for its depleting action on aminergic granules. These results strongly suggest that reserpine exerts a Ca antagonistic action on smooth muscle whereby it blocks the potential-dependent channels. However, reserpine also affects the receptor-operated channels to some extent and in addition at a high concentration it seems to exert an unspecific inhibitory action on the contractile system.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Differential role of dopamine receptor subtypes in thermoregulation and stereotypic behavior in naive and reserpinized rats.

The present study explores the differential role of dopamine receptor subtypes and their interplay in the thermoregulation and stereotypic behavior in naive and acutely or chronically reserpinized rats. In naive rats, the D2 dopamine agonist B-HT920 (0.25-1 mg/kg) produced hypothermia, an effect sensitive to blockade by the D1/D2 antagonist haloperidol (0.5 mg/kg) and to potentiation by the D1 agonist SKF38393 (5 mg/kg). The hypothermic effect of the same doses of B-HT920 was reduced following acute reserpinization (5 mg/kg, 24 hr prior) but significantly enhanced following chronic reserpinization (1 mg/kg for 15 days), as compared with the B-HT920 effect in naive rats. Although SKF38393 (5 mg/kg) failed to elicit any significant effect on the rectal temperature, it potentiated the hypothermic effect of B-HT920 (0.25 mg/kg) in naive and acutely reserpinized rats. SKF38393 (5 mg/kg), on the contrary, produced a slight hyperthermia and failed to enhance the hypothermic effect of B-HT920 (0.25 mg/kg) following chronic reserpinization. A higher dose of SKF38393 (10 mg/kg), however, produced a significant rise in body temperature when administered alone or in combination with B-HT920 (0.25 mg/kg) in chronically reserpinized rats. Apomorphine (0.25-2 mg/kg), a mixed D1/D2 agonist, also produced a significant hypothermia in naive and acutely reserpinized rats. Following chronic reserpinization, however, apomorphine (0.25-1 mg/kg) produced a significant rise in body temperature, which was significantly enhanced upon co-administration with SKF38393 (5 mg/kg) but reversed to hypothermia when given in combination with B-HT920 (0.5 mg/kg). Similarly, B-HT920 (0.25-1 mg/kg) or apomorphine (0.25-2 mg/kg) produced a mild stereotypy in naive rats. The stereotypic effect of B-HT920 as well as of apomorphine was enhanced in parallel with the increase in the duration of reserpinization. SKF38393 (5 mg/kg) failed to elicit any significant stereotypic effect but significantly enhanced the stereotypic effect of B-HT920 (0.25 mg/kg) in naive or reserpinized rats. The above data, therefore, suggest a differential involvement of D2 and D1 receptors in temperature changes and stereotypy in naive and reserpinized rats, respectively.

2,3,4,5-Tetrahydro-7,8-dihydroxy-1-phenyl-1H-3-ben↗
PubMed1999

Effects of reserpine on ECL-cell ultrastructure and histamine compartmentalization in the rat stomach.

The histamine-storing ECL cells in the stomach play a key role in the control of acid secretion. They contain granules, secretory vesicles and microvesicles, and sustained gastrin stimulation results in the additional formation of vacuoles and lipofuscin bodies. The cells are rich in the vesicle monoamine transporter type-2 (VMAT-2), which can be inhibited by reserpine. The present study examines the effect of reserpine on ECL-cell ultrastructure and histamine compartmentalization. Rats received reserpine and/or gastrin. Reserpine was given twice by the intraperitoneal route (25 mg/kg once daily). Gastrin-17 was given by subcutaneous infusion (5 nmol/kg/h), starting at the time of the first reserpine injection and continuing for 4 days when the rats were killed. At this stage, histamine in the oxyntic mucosa was unaffected by reserpine but elevated by gastrin. Immunocytochemical analysis (confocal microscopy) showed ECL-cell histamine in control and gastrin-treated rats to be localized in cytoplasmic organelles (e.g., secretory vesicles). After treatment with reserpine alone or reserpine+gastrin, ECL-cell histamine occurred mainly in the cytosol. Planimetric analysis (electron microscopy) of ECL cells showed reserpine to increase the number, size and volume density of the granules and to reduce the size and volume density of the secretory vesicles. Gastrin reduced the number and volume density of granules and secretory vesicles, increased the number and volume density of microvesicles and caused vacuoles and lipofuscin bodies to appear. Reserpine+gastrin increased the number, volume density and size of the granules. Reserpine prevented the effects of gastrin on secretory vesicles, vacuoles and microvesicles, but did not prevent the development of lipofuscin. Our findings are in line with the views: (1) that preformed cytosolic histamine is taken up by granules/secretory vesicles via VMAT-2, that histamine is instrumental in the transformation of granules into secretory vesicles and in their consequent enlargement and (2) that vacuoles are formed by the fusion of large secretory vesicles.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Modification of leech behavior patterns by reserpine-induced amine depletion.

A single injection of 100 micrograms reserpine into the crop of the medicinal leech, Hirudo medicinalis, reduced CNS serotonin and dopamine levels to less than 1% of control values within 3 d. High-pressure liquid chromotography- (HPLC) determined CNS serotonin and dopamine levels remained maximally depressed for approximately 1 month following reserpine injection. Subsequently, amine levels recovered slowly, but remained depressed 6 months after reserpine injection. Following reserpine treatment, glyoxylic acid-induced fluorescence or neutral red staining closely mirrored the HPLC-determined time course of amine depletion and recovery. Acute exposure of isolated ganglia to 10 microM reserpine for periods up to 6 hr produced a 20-30% reduction of serotonin and dopamine content. The threshold concentration of reserpine necessary to produce amine depletion was approximately 1 microM. We found that reserpine treatment eliminated biting behavior within 4 d following injection. Biting behavior remained depressed below control levels for approximately 4 months, but returned to control values while CNS serotonin and dopamine levels remained significantly depressed at this time. Unexpectedly, reserpine treatment increased rather than reduced the duration of stimulus-evoked swimming activity. This behavioral change was evident within 3 d and persisted for approximately 3.5 months. To rapidly restore amine levels in reserpine-treated animals, we bathed intact leeches in pond water containing serotonin, dopamine, or octopamine. We found that biting behavior was restored following reserpine treatment by bathing intact leeches in pond water containing serotonin or dopamine, but not octopamine. Also contrary to expectations, the increase in swim duration was not reversed by bath exposure to serotonin, dopamine, octopamine, or histamine. However, all swimming activity in reserpine-treated leeches was eliminated by the amine antagonist cyproheptadine. We propose that the presence of low levels of amines is critical for the expression of both biting and swimming activity in leeches. However, the minimal levels of amines necessary for the expression of these behaviors are lower for swimming than for biting.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Effect of Withania somnifera root extract on reserpine-induced orofacial dyskinesia and cognitive dysfunction.

Tardive dyskinesia is one of the major side effects of long-term neuroleptic treatment. The pathophysiology of this disabling and commonly irreversible movement disorder is still obscure. Vacuous chewing movements in rats are widely accepted as an animal model of tardive dyskinesia. Oxidative stress and products of lipid peroxidation are implicated in the pathophysiology of tardive dyskinesia. Repeated treatment with reserpine (1.0 mg/kg) on alternate days for a period of 5 days (days 1, 3 and 5) significantly induced vacuous chewing movements and tongue protrusions in rats. Chronic treatment with Withania somnifera root extract (Ws) for a period of 4 weeks to reserpine treated animals significantly and dose dependently (50 and 100 mg/kg) reduced the reserpine-induced vacuous chewing movements and tongue protrusions. Reserpine treated animals also showed poor retention of memory in the elevated plus maze task paradigm. Chronic Ws administration significantly reversed reserpine-induced retention deficits. Biochemical analysis revealed that chronic reserpine treatment significantly induced lipid peroxidation and decreased the glutathione (GSH) levels in the brains of rats. Chronic reserpine treated rats showed decreased levels of antioxidant defense enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase. Chronic administration of Ws root extract dose dependently (50 and 100 mg/kg) and significantly reduced the lipid peroxidation and restored the decreased glutathione levels by chronic reserpine treatment. It also significantly reversed the reserpine-induced decrease in brain SOD and catalase levels in rats. The major findings of the present study indicate that oxidative stress might play an important role in the pathophysiology of reserpine-induced abnormal oral movements. In conclusion, Withania somnifera root extract could be a useful drug for the treatment of drug-induced dyskinesia.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Sustained stimulation of rat adrenal chromaffin cell proliferation by reserpine.

Chronic administration of reserpine is associated with the development of pheochromocytomas in rats. Short-term administration of reserpine to rats has been shown to stimulate chromaffin cell proliferation, leading to the hypothesis that reserpine causes pheochromocytomas indirectly by providing a proliferative backdrop on which genetic damage may occur. However, it is not known whether the proliferative effects of reserpine persist long enough for this model to be tenable. In the present investigation, the effects of reserpine on bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation into epinephrine (E)- and norepinephrine (NE)-type chromaffin cells were studied after 1, 4, and 12 weeks of reserpine administration. Reserpine administered in the diet at 10 or 50 ppm was shown to result in a persistent mitogenic stimulation of the rat adrenal medulla. Cells that incorporated BrdU at all time points appeared to be typical E- and NE-type chromaffin cells, and the ratio of BrdU-labeled E cells to BrdU-labeled NE cells was not altered by reserpine. An additional observation was that the ratio of all E cells to all NE cells declined after Week 1 and that the decline could be accelerated by administration of reserpine. This finding suggests that neural stimulation of chromaffin cells might play a role in age-related functional changes of the adrenal medulla during early adult life. The present observations support the hypothesis that reserpine induces pheochromocytomas indirectly by increasing chromaffin cell proliferation. They also decrease the likelihood that rat pheochromocytomas arise from preferential stimulation of proliferation of a particular cell type.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗
PubMed1984

Secretory responses to autonomic stimulation of rat salivary glands following reserpine treatment.

The response to stimulation of the parasympathetic innervation to parotid or submandibular glands of reserpinized rats was altered from that of untreated rats. Thus, acute reserpinization, like other types of sympathectomy, resulted in increase in volume of parasympathetically-evoked parotid or submandibular saliva when comparison was made with evoked saliva from untreated glands. As norepinephrine is depleted by reserpine, there was no response to stimulation of sympathetic nerves to these reserpinized glands. Adrenergic receptors were normally activated by administration of autonomic agonists. Thus a single high dose of reserpine can cause the same effects as those induced by chronic administration of low doses of reserpine, i.e. a 3-fold increase in calcium (Ca) concentration of submandibular gland but no change in Ca concentration of parotid gland. Although sympathetic stimulation caused no change in Ca concentration of submandibular or parotid glands of reserpine (acute)-treated rats, stimulation with isoproterenol (25 mg/kg, i.p., 60 min) produced a 32-35 per cent decrease in glandular Ca concentration from that of unstimulated reserpinized glands. Glands of untreated rats showed a 52 per cent depletion after 60 min of isoproterenol stimulation; however, Ca output in parotid saliva from reserpinized rat for 60 min of stimulation was not changed from that of untreated rats, but that of submandibular saliva was two times greater. Ca concentration of submandibular saliva was unchanged during 60 min-stimulation of reserpine-treated rats, but that of untreated rats decreased.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

The action of reserpine, 6-hydroxydopamine, and bretylium on digitalis-induced cardiotoxicity.

This study determined whether the protective effect of reserpine against ouabain-induced ventricular arrhythmias in the cat is due to an action of the drug on the adrenergic nerve terminal. Reserpine (5 mg/kg i.p.) administered 24 h prior to ouabain (2 micrograms/kg per min i.v., until death) increased the dose of ouabain to produce premature ventricular contractions, ventricular tachycardia, and death from 77.3 +/- 5.2 to 105.0 +/- 6.0; 84.9 +/- 5.2 to 132.7 +/- 9.1; and 108.8 +/- 4.0 to 165.7 +/- 10.4 micrograms/kg, respectively (P less than 0.05). When 6-hydroxydopamine (6OHDA; 20 mg/kg i.v.) was given 3 days prior to the experiment, the protective effect of reserpine was not evident. When bretylium (20 mg/kg i.v., 2 h prior to ouabain) was administered to animals previously treated with reserpine, the dose of ouabain which produced premature ventricular contractions, ventricular tachycardia, and death was increased to 109.0 +/- 7.2; 146.1 +/- 12.6; and 165.8 +/- 7.6 micrograms/kg, respectively (P less than 0.05). However, the magnitude of this protective action was similar to that produced by reserpine alone. Lathers et al. (Fed. Proc. 40, 672, 1981) reported that bretylium alone provides protection of a similar order of magnitude as reserpine. Thus, the effects of reserpine and bretylium were not additive; this indicates that the two agents may be acting on the same locus or they may be acting at different sites with the action of one drug masking or blocking the action of the other. Since 6OHDA prevented the action of reserpine on ouabain-induced ventricular arrhythmia and since 6OHDA only produces degeneration of adrenergic nerve terminals, it is probable that the protective effect of both reserpine and bretylium is due to an action at the adrenergic nerve terminal. The heart rate and blood pressure were not involved in the antiarrhythmic effects of reserpine.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Effects of age on reserpine-induced orofacial dyskinesia and possible protection of diphenyl diselenide.

Acute reserpine administration produces persistent oral dyskinesia in rats, an alleged animal model of tardive dyskinesia. The pathophysiology of the syndrome remains unclear, but experimental evidence suggests that neurodegeneration in the basal ganglia caused by oxidative stress plays a pivotal role in TD development. In this paper, the authors examined whether diphenyl diselenide, an organochalcogen with antioxidant properties, changes the behavioral and neurochemical effect of acute reserpine administration in old rats. The basal vacuous chewing movements (VCMs) and facial twitching (FT) duration was higher in old rats (15 months of age), when compared with adult rats (3 months of age; 0.01). Basal thiobarbituric acid-reactive species (TBARS) levels were increased only in the cortex of old rats, when compared to adult animals (p < .05). Reserpine injection (1mg/kg, s.c. for 3 days every other day) caused a significant increase on the tongue protusion (TP) frequency (p < .01) and facial twitching duration (p < .01) in old rats. Diphenyl diselenide (10 mg/kg, i.p. for 4 days, starting the day before reserpine) reversed only reserpine-induced TP increase (p < .01). Reserpine caused a significant increase in striatal TBARS levels (p < .01) and diselenide reversed (p < .01) the effect of reserpine on TBARS levels in the striatum. In subcortical parts, isolated reserpine or diselenide administration significantly increased (p < .01) the levels of TBARS, while simultaneous treatment with reserpine and diselenide reverted this effect (p < .01). The results of the present study confirmed the effects of age on orofacial dyskinesia. Diphenyl diselenide, an organochalcogen with antioxidant properties, showed modest effects on reserpine-induced orofacial dyskinesia. However, additional studies are still necessary to establish whether this compound can be considered an effective antioxidant in other models of neurotoxicity.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2000

Effect of reserpine treatment on low-density lipoproteins in arterial wall and internal organs of rats.

The effects were determined in rats of single injections of reserpine at increasing doses (0.5, 1.58, and 5.0 mg/kg) on low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and cholesterol in aortic wall, heart, liver, kidney, and adrenal gland. Catecholamine levels in plasma, heart, and liver, arterial blood pressure, and heart rate were also monitored. Reserpine was injected intraperitoneally, followed immediately by the administration of [3H]cholesterol by gavage. Twelve hours later, homologous 125I-tyramine cellobiose-labeled LDL (125I-TC-LDL) was injected intravenously. Twenty-four hours later, the rats were killed, and the radioactivities of aortic walls, heart, liver, kidney, and adrenal glands were determined. The results showed that after reserpine treatment the accumulation of both the 125I-TC label derived from LDL and total [3H]cholesterol was significantly reduced in aortic wall and heart, increased in liver, and unchanged in the kidney and adrenal gland. At higher doses (1.58 and 5.0 mg/kg), reserpine significantly accelerated the plasma clearance of radiolabelled LDL. Plasma noradrenaline in reserpine-treated animals decreased maximally (86%) by 12 h and by 61-71% at 36 h compared with the control. Plasma adrenaline increased transiently after injection of reserpine and then returned to the basal levels. Reserpine greatly decreased noradrenaline and adrenaline levels in heart and liver. Arterial blood pressure was decreased significantly (0.001 < p < 0.05) at 12 h by the two lower doses of reserpine and then returned to normal values over the next 24 h. The results indicate that reserpine decreases LDL cholesterol in artery wall and heart and increases it in liver. These findings suggest that reserpine could find a new use as a cholesterol-lowering drug for the prevention of atherosclerosis.

Adrenal Glands↗
PubMed2004

Reversal of reserpine-induced orofacial dyskinesia and cognitive dysfunction by quercetin.

Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is a serious neurological syndrome associated with long-term administration of neuroleptics to humans and experimental animals. The pathophysiology of this disabling and commonly irreversible movement disorder is still obscure. It may be caused by a loss of dopaminergic cells or may be due to free radicals as a product of high synaptic dopamine levels. Quercetin is a bioflavonoid with strong antioxidant properties. Repeated treatment with reserpine (1.0 mg/kg) on each other day for a period of 5 days (days 1, 3 and 5) significantly induced vacuous chewing movements (VCMs) and tongue protrusions (TPs) in rats. Chronic treatment with quercetin for a period of 4 weeks to reserpine-treated animals significantly and dose dependently (50 and 100 mg/kg) reduced the reserpine-induced VCMs and TPs. Reserpine-treated animals also showed poor retention of memory in elevated plus-maze task paradigm. Chronic quercetin administration significantly reversed reserpine-induced retention deficits. Biochemical analysis revealed that chronic reserpine treatment significantly induced lipid peroxidation and decreased the glutathione (GSH) levels in the brains of rats. Chronic reserpine-treated rats showed decreased levels of antioxidant defense enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase. Chronic administration of quercetin dose dependently (50-100 mg/kg) and significantly reduced the lipid peroxidation and restored the decreased GSH levels by chronic reserpine treatment. It also significantly reversed the reserpine-induced decrease in brain SOD and catalase levels in rats. The results of the present study clearly indicated that quercetin has a protective role against reserpine-induced orofacial dyskinesia and memory impairment. Consequently, the use of quercetin as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of TD should be considered.

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