Development of monoaminergic neurotransmitters in fetal and postnatal rat brain: analysis by HPLC with electrochemical detection.
The monoamines dopamine, norepinephrine, epinephrine, and serotonin and their major metabolites 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, homovanillic acid, 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylethylene glycol, and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid were measured in the CNS of the rat during development from fetal day 18 to young adult. The catecholamines, serotonin, and their major metabolites remained low during fetal life. Concentrations measured in total brain started to increase around birth till the end of the fourth week of life after which steady-state levels were measured. Our results suggest that although monoamine systems are already morphologically well developed during late gestational life, they probably become a significant functional system only around birth and early postnatal life.
Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University Hospital, Brussels, Belgium.
P
P
Herregodts
B
B
Velkeniers
G
G
Ebinger
Y
Y
Michotte
L
L
Vanhaelst
E
E
Hooghe-Peters
D015102:3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000378:metabolism; D006719:Homovanillic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D008734:Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol / Q000378:metabolism; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism
D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D015102:3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid; D012701:Serotonin; D008734:Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid; D004298:Dopamine; D009638:Norepinephrine; D006719:Homovanillic Acid; D004837:Epinephrine