title: Gammahydroxybutyric acid: central biochemical and behavioral effects in neonatal rats.
abstract: Administration of gammahydroxybutyric acid (GHBA) to 4 days old animals caused a dose dependent decrease in locomotor activity. GHBA also induced a marked hypoventilation, irregular breathing and finally apnea, while heart rate was slightly increased. Changes in monoamine neurotransmitter turnover indicated an inhibition of dopamine (DA) neurotransmission. It is concluded that GHBA mechanisms in the neonatal rat brain are biochemically as well as functionally mature at an early age and that the effects on locomotor activity and respiratory regulation at least partly may involve interactions with central DA neurotransmission.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000502:physiology; D001679:Biogenic Amines / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006885:Hydroxybutyrates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012119:Respiration / Q000187:drug effects; D012978:Sodium Oxybate / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D001679:Biogenic Amines; D006885:Hydroxybutyrates; D012978:Sodium Oxybate