Blockade of α2-adrenoceptors induces Arc gene expression in rat brain in a glutamate receptor-dependent manner: A combined qPCR, in situ hybridisation and immunocytochemistry study

► Neuropsychiatric drug therapies target brain monoamines and interact with glutamate. ► Effect of α2-adrenoceptor antagonists on Arc gene expression was studied. ► Arc expression increased in a dose-, time- and brain region-dependent manner. ► Effect was blocked by antagonists of AMPA, NMDA mGluR5 but not mGluR2/3 receptors. ► α2-adrenoceptor antagonists increase Arc expression in a glutamate-dependent manner.