?-Adrenergic receptor binding in different regions of rat brain after various intensities of electroshock: Relationship to postictal EEG

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Abstract
Relationships among different intensities of electroshock treatment (EST), EEG-recordable primary after discharge (PAD), and β-adrenergic binding in various brain regions were investigated in adult rats. Different intensities of EST (1–2, 6–8, 20–30 mamp) were applied through ear-clip electrodes for 7 consecutive days. A Sigmoidal relationship was observed between the PAD and the applied currentintensity. 3H-dihydroalprenolol (DHA) was used as a ligand to evaluate β-adrenergic receptor binding in membrane preparation of the following brain regions: Cerebral cortex, cerebellum, pons-medulla, and “midregion”–which consisted of the remainder tissue including thalamus, striatum, and midbrain. A significant decrease (28%) in binding was observed in cortex tissue after EST of 6–8 mamp but no changes were observed after either 1–2 mamp or 20–30 mamp. In “midregion,” a significant increase (40%) in binding was observed after EST with the subconvulsive intensity (1–2 mamp) whereas no changes were seen at higher intensites. The results suggest that in cortex, the function relating β-adrenergic binding to current intensities may not be monotonic. The increase in binding seen in the “midregion” after subconvulsive EST may not be associated with changes related to the clinical efficacy of EST.