Effect of hypoxia on brainstem concentration of biogenic amines in postnatal rabbits

M. Colleen McNamara, J. L. Gingras-Leatherman, Edward E. Lawson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

14 Scopus citations

Abstract

The effects of hypoxia FiO2 = 0.10 on concentration of biogenic amines in specific brainstem nuclear groups were investigated in 3- and 21-day-old rabbits. The rabbit pups were confined to temperature-controlled water-jacketed chambers and exposed to 6 h of 21% O2 or to one of 3 combinations of 21% O2 and 10% O2. These 3 combinations were either intermittent hypoxia, or 4 h of normoxia followed by 2 h constant hypoxia, or 2 h of hypoxia followed by recovery for 4 h in normoxia. Radioenzymatic assays were used to determine the concentration of dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin in the following brainstem nuclei: substantia nigra, locus coeruleus, dorsal raphe and the nucleus reticularis pontis oralis. Compared with control, hypoxia did not affect dopamine levels at either age. The concentration of norepinephrine was inconsistently affected by hypoxia at either age. In contrast, in the 3-day-old rabbits serotonin was consistently reduced in each of the nuclei. In the 21-day-old rabbits, serotonin was either unchanged or increased following hypoxia. Our results show that hypoxia alters the concentration of serotonin in an age-specific manner. This change in serotonin concentration may reflect altered serotonin metabolism and suggests a possible mechanism by which hypoxia disrupts physiologic homeostasis in newborns.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)253-258
Number of pages6
JournalBrain research
Volume390
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 1986
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • brain
  • dopamine
  • neuroregulator
  • newborn
  • norepinephrine
  • serotonin

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Neuroscience
  • Molecular Biology
  • Clinical Neurology
  • Developmental Biology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Effect of hypoxia on brainstem concentration of biogenic amines in postnatal rabbits'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this