Catecholamines and pinealectomy-induced convulsions in the gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus).
Within three hours after surgery nine out of ten pineal-ectomized gerbils will convulse; dopamine (DA) levels in the telencephalon of the gerbils do not change after pinealectomy (PX), however, norepinephrine (NE) concentrations decrease in the telencephalon from 1-12 hours after PX (Philo and Reiter, 1980). Administration of L-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA, 50 mg/kg) will prevent the convulsions and maintain normal levels of norepinephrine. Administration of alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine (alpha MPT, 250 mg/kg), a tyrosine hydroxylase inhibitor, increases the number of convulsions. Injections of L-DOPA counter the facilitatory actions of alpha MPT on PX-induced convulsions. Studies with the monoamine oxidase inhibitor pargyline indicate a decrease in production of norepinephrine after PX in the gerbil. The diminished levels of neurotransmitter apparently facilitate the onset of convulsions caused by the epileptogenic stimulus of PX.
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000502:physiology*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D005849:Gerbillinae / Q000502:physiology*; D007980:Levodopa / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008781:Methyltyrosines / Q000494:pharmacology; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000378:metabolism; D010293:Pargyline / Q000494:pharmacology; D010870:Pineal Gland / Q000502:physiology*; D012640:Seizures / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D019805:alpha-Methyltyrosine
D002395:Catecholamines; D008781:Methyltyrosines; D007980:Levodopa; D019805:alpha-Methyltyrosine; D010293:Pargyline; D004298:Dopamine; D009638:Norepinephrine