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CATECHOLAMINES IN FETAL AND NEWBORN RAT BRAIN
Author(s) -
Coyle J. T.,
Henry D.
Publication year - 1973
Publication title -
journal of neurochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.75
H-Index - 229
eISSN - 1471-4159
pISSN - 0022-3042
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-4159.1973.tb04225.x
Subject(s) - dopamine , reserpine , norepinephrine , medicine , endocrinology , fetus , gestation , chemistry , enzyme , biology , pregnancy , biochemistry , genetics
The levels of dopamine and norepinephrine were determined in the brains of fetal and newborn rats by means of a sensitive, radiometric‐enzymatic assay. Catecholamines were converted to their 3‐ O ‐methylated derivatives in the presence of catechol‐ O ‐methyl transferase (EC 2.1.1.1) and [ 3 H‐methyl]S‐adenosylmethionine; and the [ 3 H]‐derivatives were isolated by selective extraction. The assay had a sensitivity for dopamine and norepinephrine of 100 picograms and was linear to at least 30 nanograms of catecholamines. Both amines were present at 15 days of gestation and increased 15‐fold in content during the last week of gestation. The regional distribution of these neurotransmitters in the brain of the newborn rat correlated with the distribution of their biosynthetic enzymes. An investigation of the effects of reserpine, pheniprazine, α‐methyl‐ para ‐tyrosine, diethyldithiocarbamate and l ‐DOPA on the levels of dopamine and norepinephrine in the brains of the 18‐day gestational fetus indicated that the levels of these neurotransmitters are under controls similar to those known to occur in the brain of the adult rat.