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Levels of dopamine and noradrenaline in the developing retina — effect of light deprivation
Author(s) -
Shelke Rajani R.J.,
Lakshmana Madepalli K.,
Ramamohan Y.,
Raju Trichur R.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
international journal of developmental neuroscience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.761
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1873-474X
pISSN - 0736-5748
DOI - 10.1016/s0736-5748(96)00080-9
Subject(s) - dopamine , dopaminergic , endocrinology , retina , medicine , stimulus (psychology) , maternal deprivation , biology , retinal , catecholamine , neuroscience , psychology , biochemistry , psychotherapist
The effect of light deprivation on the levels of dopamine and noradrenaline was studied in the developing rat retina. These transmitters were estimated in three groups of rats: (i) cycling light reared; (ii) dark reared since birth; and (iii) dark reared since birth, but exposed to cycling light for 1 day prior to the estimation of catecholamines. Our results show that (1) there is a progressive decrease in the levels of dopamine and noradrenaline in the cycling light and dark reared rats during postnatal development; (2) dark rearing further reduces the content of dopamine and noradrenaline; and (3) restoration of physiological (light) stimulus in the dark‐reared rats during the early postnatal period results in the recovery of noradrenaline to a greater extent than that of dopamine. This study demonstrates a progressive decrease in the plasticity of dopaminergic system during retinal development, while such a decrease is not apparent in the noradrenergic system.