Abnormalities in Monoamine Levels in the Central Nervous System of the Genetically Epilepsy-Prone Rat |
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Authors: | Phillip C. Jobe &dagger ,Hugh E. Laird II&Dagger ,Kwang Ho Ko&dagger ,Tom Ray,John W. Dailey&dagger |
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Affiliation: | *Veterans Administration Medical Center;and Louisiana State University Medical Center;†Departments of Pharmacology, Shreveport, Louisiana;**Department of Psychiatry, Shreveport, Louisiana;‡Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona |
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Abstract: | Norepinephrine, dopamine, and 5-hydroxytryptamine concentrations were determined in the central nervous systems of genetically epilepsy-prone rats (GEPR) and in control rats. Norepinephrine concentrations were abnormal in all major areas of the central nervous system of the GEPR, with decrements existing in the telencephalon, hypothalamus-thalamus, midbrain, pons-medulla and spinal cord. An increment in the concentration of this neurotransmitter existed in the cerebellum. Dopamine concentrations were normal in all areas of the GEPR brain. Abnormalities in 5-hydroxytryptamine concentrations were also present in the GEPR. They were exclusively decrements and occurred in the telencephalon, hypothalamus-thalamus, midbrain, and pons medulla. Concentrations of this neurotransmitter were normal in the cerebellum and spinal cord. Coupled with our earlier pharmacologic data, these observations support our concept that noradrenergic and/or 5-hydroxytryptaminergic decrements are etiologically important in seizure susceptibility in the GEPR. The lack of abnormalities in brain dopamine concentrations strengthens our hypothesis that dopaminergic transmission does not regulate seizure susceptibility in this model. |
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Keywords: | Genetically epilepsy prone rat Seizures Norepinephrine Dopamine 5-Hydroxytryptamine CNS areas |
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