title: Plasma catecholamine levels during exposure to an environment of hyperbaric oxygen.
abstract: Plasma catecholamine levels were measured before, during and after hyperbaric oxygen therapy in nine subjects. Adrenaline levels were elevated immediately prior to hyperbaric oxygen therapy, but then fell and stabilized once treatment commenced. No significant fluctuations in plasma dopamine or noradrenaline levels were noted during the treatment period. This study does not support the premise that there is a suppression of endogenous plasma catecholamine levels during hyperbaric oxygen as has been previously reported. The observed initial increase in adrenaline can be attributed to stress/anxiety and the subsequent decline in this stress, rather than the result of the hyperbaric oxygen treatment itself.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology, University of Adelaide, South Australia.
authors.forename: K P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Tremellen
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Williamson
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Frewin
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Russell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000473:pathology; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000097:blood*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000097:blood; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006931:Hyperbaric Oxygenation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000097:blood; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D002395:Catecholamines; D004298:Dopamine; D009638:Norepinephrine; D004837:Epinephrine