title: Dopamine, serotonin, and acid metabolites in brain regions from the developing offspring of ethanol-treated rats.
abstract: Female rats were pair-fed control or ethanol liquid diets on a chronic basis prior to parturition. Six brain regions (hypothalamus, cerebellum, brain stem, cortex, corpus striatum, and hippocampus) were dissected from 19- and 35-day-old rat offspring for the determination of dopamine (DA), serotonin (5-HT), 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), and homovanillic acid (HVA). DA, 5-HT, and the acid metabolites were separated simultaneously by reverse-phase HPLC and were quantitated using electrochemical detection. Between 19 and 35 days of age in control rats we observed an increase in the concentration of 5-HT and 5-HIAA in the corpus striatum and hippocampus and a decrease in these compounds in the cerebellum. In addition, there was a development-related decrease of 5-HIAA in the hypothalamus and an increase in the brain stem. During the same age period the concentration of dopamine increased in the hypothalamus and corpus striatum. There was also a development-related decrease in the concentration of DOPAC in the corpus striatum and an increase in the cortex as well as a decrease in HVA in the cerebellum and cortex. In comparison to age-matched control animals the 19- and 35-day-old offspring of ethanol-treated rats had a lower concentration of 5-HT and/or 5-HIAA in the cortex, cerebellum, and brainstem. In addition the 35-day-old offspring of ethanol-treated rats exhibited a decrease in DA and HVA in the cortex. The results of the present study suggest that in utero ethanol exposure affects both the serotonergic and dopaminergic systems in brain.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Rathbun
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Druse
mesh_terms: D015102:3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000254:growth & development; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000187:drug effects*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004298:Dopamine / Q000032:analysis*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006719:Homovanillic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012701:Serotonin / Q000032:analysis*; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D015102:3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid; D012701:Serotonin; D000431:Ethanol; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid; D004298:Dopamine; D006719:Homovanillic Acid