Increase in rat brain tyrosine hydroxylase activity produced by electroconvulsive shock.
A sustained increase in the turnover of norepinephrine coupled with an increased concentration of that amine has, in a previous study, been observed in the brains of rats exposed to electroconvulsive shock twice daily for one week. The phenomenon has been further examined by studying the effects of a similar regimen of electroconvulsive shock upon tyrosine hydroxylase in the brain, since that enzyme appears to be rate-limiting in norepinephrine synthesis. A small (15%) but significant increase in the whole brain enzyme activity was found in the electroshock-treated animals. A significant increase of tyrosine hydroxylase activity was found in the brainstem (24%) and cortex (20%) of such animals.
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000201:enzymology*; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D004597:Electroshock; D004790:Enzyme Induction; D006899:Mixed Function Oxygenases / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D051381:Rats; D014443:Tyrosine / Q000378:metabolism
D014443:Tyrosine; D006899:Mixed Function Oxygenases