α2-Adrenoceptor Activation by Clonidine Enhances Stimulation-evoked Acetylcholine Release from Spinal Cord Tissue after Nerve Ligation in Rats

Spinally administered clonidine produces analgesia via alpha2-adrenergic receptors. The analgesic potency of clonidine and its dependency on muscarinic acetylcholine receptors increase in rats after nerve injury. The authors hypothesized that these changes reflect greater acetylcholine release from the spinal cord by clonidine, either through direct or indirect effects.Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into two groups: no surgery or left L5...