Abstract
We proposed that mitral cell beta1-adrenoceptor activation mediates rat pup odor preference learning. Here we evaluate beta1-, beta2-, alpha1-, and alpha2-adrenoceptor agonists in such learning. The beta1-adrenoceptor agonist, dobutamine, and the alpha1-adrenoceptor agonist, phenylephrine, induced learning, and both exhibited an inverted U-curve dose-response relationship to odor preference learning. Phenylephrine-induced learning occurred in the presence of propranolol to prevent indirect activation of beta-adrenoceptors. Alpha1-adrenoceptor mediation may represent a novel mechanism inducing learning or may increase cAMP in mitral cells via indirect activation of GABA(B) receptors. Neither the beta2-adrenoceptor agonist, salbutamol, nor the alpha2-adrenoceptor agonist, clonidine, induced learning.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Adrenergic alpha-1 Receptor Agonists
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Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / pharmacology
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Adrenergic beta-1 Receptor Agonists
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Adrenergic beta-Agonists / pharmacology
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Animals
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Association Learning / drug effects
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Association Learning / physiology*
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Conditioning, Classical / drug effects
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Conditioning, Classical / physiology
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Cyclic AMP / metabolism
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Dobutamine / pharmacology
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Female
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Male
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Neurons / cytology
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Neurons / drug effects
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Neurons / metabolism*
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Olfactory Bulb / cytology
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Olfactory Bulb / drug effects
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Olfactory Bulb / metabolism*
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Phenylephrine / pharmacology
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Rats
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Rats, Sprague-Dawley
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Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-1 / metabolism*
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Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-1 / metabolism*
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Signal Transduction / physiology
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Smell / physiology*
Substances
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Adrenergic alpha-1 Receptor Agonists
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Adrenergic alpha-Agonists
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Adrenergic beta-1 Receptor Agonists
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Adrenergic beta-Agonists
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Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-1
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Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-1
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Phenylephrine
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Dobutamine
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Cyclic AMP