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Beta-adrenoceptor modulation of transiently overexpressed alpha 2-adrenoceptors in brain and peripheral tissues: cellular mechanisms underlying the developmental toxicity of terbutaline.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Kreider, ML; Seidler, FJ; Slotkin, TA
Published in: Brain Res Bull
January 15, 2004

Terbutaline, a selective beta(2)-adrenoceptor (beta(2)AR) agonist, is widely used as a tocolytic to arrest preterm labor but recent studies indicate that excessive betaAR stimulation can alter the expression and function of other neurotransmitter receptors that are essential to fetal/neonatal development. In many immature tissues, alpha(2)-adrenergic receptors (alpha(2)ARs) are overexpressed and the receptors are thought to play a role in cell proliferation and architectural assembly. We evaluated whether betaAR agonists perturb the expression of alpha(2)ARs in central and peripheral tissues during various developmental stages in the fetal and neonatal rat. In peripheral tissues (heart, liver, kidney) administration of terbutaline (10mg/kg s.c. for 4 days) elicited decrements in alpha(2)AR expression only during a critical developmental window that differed for each tissue; terbutaline was more effective than isoproterenol, a mixed beta(1)/beta(2) agonist. Neonatal destruction of sympathetic nerves with 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) had a biphasic effect, initially reducing alpha(2)ARs but subsequently elevating receptor expression. In contrast to the effects in the periphery, terbutaline administration promoted alpha(2)AR expression in neonatal brain regions with effects preferential to males. As the rat is an altricial species, these results during late gestation and the early neonatal period indicate that betaAR input modulates alpha(2)AR expression during developmental stages in which betaAR tocolytics are likely to be used. Disruption of alpha(2)AR expression and function may therefore contribute to adverse effects that have been noted in the offspring of pregnant women treated with terbutaline.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Brain Res Bull

DOI

ISSN

0361-9230

Publication Date

January 15, 2004

Volume

62

Issue

4

Start / End Page

305 / 314

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Tissue Distribution
  • Terbutaline
  • Receptors, Adrenergic, beta
  • Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Rats
  • Pregnancy
  • Neurology & Neurosurgery
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
  • Female
 

Citation

APA
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ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Kreider, M. L., Seidler, F. J., & Slotkin, T. A. (2004). Beta-adrenoceptor modulation of transiently overexpressed alpha 2-adrenoceptors in brain and peripheral tissues: cellular mechanisms underlying the developmental toxicity of terbutaline. Brain Res Bull, 62(4), 305–314. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brainresbull.2003.09.017
Kreider, Marisa L., Frederic J. Seidler, and Theodore A. Slotkin. “Beta-adrenoceptor modulation of transiently overexpressed alpha 2-adrenoceptors in brain and peripheral tissues: cellular mechanisms underlying the developmental toxicity of terbutaline.Brain Res Bull 62, no. 4 (January 15, 2004): 305–14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brainresbull.2003.09.017.
Kreider, Marisa L., et al. “Beta-adrenoceptor modulation of transiently overexpressed alpha 2-adrenoceptors in brain and peripheral tissues: cellular mechanisms underlying the developmental toxicity of terbutaline.Brain Res Bull, vol. 62, no. 4, Jan. 2004, pp. 305–14. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.brainresbull.2003.09.017.
Journal cover image

Published In

Brain Res Bull

DOI

ISSN

0361-9230

Publication Date

January 15, 2004

Volume

62

Issue

4

Start / End Page

305 / 314

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Tissue Distribution
  • Terbutaline
  • Receptors, Adrenergic, beta
  • Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Rats
  • Pregnancy
  • Neurology & Neurosurgery
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
  • Female