Effects of subacute treatment with toluene on cerebrocortical α‐ and β‐adrenergic receptors in the rat. Evidence for an increased number and a reduced affinity of β‐adrenergic receptors

Abstract
Subacute treatment with toluene (80–1500 p.p.m.) produces a dose-dependent reduction of affinity and increase in density of the β-adrenergic antagonist [3H]dihydroalprenolol binding sites in the frontoparietal cortex of the male rat, while the binding characteristics of a,-adrenergic ([3H]WB 4101) and α2-adrenergic ([3H]p-aminoclonidine) binding sites in the same region is unaffected by this treatment as evaluated in vitro. Therefore, it is suggested that the cortical β-adrenergic receptors are particularly vulnerable to the action of toluene in vivo. It is speculated that as a result cortical β-adrenergic neurotransmission may be altered following exposure to low concentrations of toluene, possibly related to the physico-chemical properties of toluene, leading to changes in membrane fluidity.

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