Brain catecholamine concentration during the first week of development in rats.
Neonatal brain (whole brain minus cerebral hemispheres) dopamine (DA) and norepinephrine (NE) concentrations (pg/microgram protein) were studied 30 min after an injection of L-DOPA methyl ester (50 mg/kg); haloperidol (1 mg/kg); D-amphetamine sulfate (0.5 mg/kg); saline only or no treatment. Catecholamines were assayed on the day of birth (postnatal day 1) and postnatal day 7 by high performance liquid chromatography coupled with an electrochemical detector for catecholamines (CA). When L-DOPA was administered there was a selective 7 X (postnatal day 1) or 3 X (day 7) increase in brain DA when compared to saline controls. Haloperidol pretreatment on either day prevented these increases after L-DOPA. These findings constitute biochemical evidence for selective elevation of brain DA during the first postnatal week of life after L-DOPA administration in a dosage that is also capable of enhancing the coordination required for swimming behavior.
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000378:metabolism*; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D003913:Dextroamphetamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004298:Dopamine / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000494:pharmacology; D007980:Levodopa / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000032:analysis*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D007980:Levodopa; D006220:Haloperidol; D003913:Dextroamphetamine; D004298:Dopamine; D009638:Norepinephrine