title: Cranial neurotransmitter alteration in newborn piglets exposed to oxygen.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To evaluate the influence of hyperoxia on neurotransmitters in the developing brain of newborn piglets.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten newborn piglets were randomly assigned to hyperoxia (inhaled 100% oxygen) or control (inhaled room air) groups and ventilated for 4 hours. Blood samples were obtained at 0, 15, 30, and then every 30 minutes for 4 hours. Extracts of whole brain tissue were assayed for dopamine, serotonin, and their metabolites using high-performance liquid chromatography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In comparison with the control group, there was a general trend of lower neurotransmitter content in the brains of the hyperoxia group. In addition, the levels of dopamine and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid in the left frontal lobe, and serotonin in the right occipital lobe and left frontal lobe, of the hyperoxia group were significantly lower compared with the control group (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results indicate that hyperoxia may alter the production or metabolism of dopamine and serotonin in some cortical areas of the neonatal central nervous system, and it tended to have some inhibitory effects. Therefore, pediatricians should be very judicious in using high oxygen on the developing brain.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Pei-Chen
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Tsao
authors.forename: Mei-Jy
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Jeng
authors.forename: Wen-Jue
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Soong
authors.forename: Tung-Hu
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Yu-Tse
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Yu-Sheng
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Shr-Yun
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Chiou
authors.forename: Shu-Jen
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ren-Bing
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Tang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D018496:Hyperoxia / Q000378:metabolism*; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D012701:Serotonin; D004298:Dopamine