Systemic administration of ephedrine induces Fos protein expression in caudate putamen and subthalamic nucleus of rats.

Systemic administration of ephedrine, an anti-hypotensive agent with central effects, induced dramatic expression of Fos protein in the caudate putamen (CPu) and subthalamic nucleus (STN) of rats. This may be related to dopaminergic agonist properties that have been attributed to this compound, dopamine receptors being present in both CPu and STN. This finding seems to suggest that central effects of ephedrine might be mediated by changes in basal ganglia outflow.