title: Influence of Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis virus on catecholamine metabolism in mouse CNS: early changes in turnover rates and content.
abstract: The influence of two strains of Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis virus on catecholamine metabolism in the central nervous system (CNS) of the mouse was studied by the intracranial inoculation of NMRI-IVIC mice, 24 days old. Doses of 300 LD50 of the moderately virulent Pixuna strain and 10(4) LD50 of the nonvirulent TC-83 strain were used. The animals were sacrificed 4, 7, 12, and 18 days after the inoculation, and the CNS contents of dopamine, norepinephrine, and adrenaline were determined by a radioenzymatic method. The turnover of these compounds was studied with the aid of the enzymatic inhibitors pargyline and alpha-methyl tyrosine. With the Pixuna strain a decrease in the level and turnover of catecholamines was observed in all eight brain areas studied: cerebellum, pons-medulla, hypothalamus, mesencephalon, striatum, olfactory bulb-tuberculum, hippocampus, and cerebral cortex. In some regions the levels returned to normal in 12-18 days, but in the striatum, mesencephalon, hypothalamus, and olfactory bulb-tuberculum, recovery was slower and required at least 18 days after inoculation. The levels of catecholamines in the brain of mice inoculated with the nonvirulent TC-83 strain were not modified, but there was a decrease in the turnover.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000032:analysis*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000032:analysis; D004666:Encephalitis Virus, Venezuelan Equine / Q000472:pathogenicity; D004683:Encephalomyelitis, Equine / Q000378:metabolism*; D004685:Encephalomyelitis, Venezuelan Equine / Q000378:metabolism*; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000032:analysis; D013045:Species Specificity; D014774:Virulence
chemical_list: D002395:Catecholamines; D004298:Dopamine; D009638:Norepinephrine; D004837:Epinephrine