Monosodium L-glutamate-induced convulsions--II. Changes in catecholamine concentrations in various brain areas of adult rats

• Published in: General pharmacology Vol. 16; no. 5; p. 489
• Main Authors: Beas-Zárate, C, Arauz-Contreras, J, Velazquez, A, Feria-Velasco, A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 1985
• Subjects: Animals; Brain Chemistry - drug effects; Brain Stem - metabolism; Cerebellum - metabolism; Dopamine - metabolism; Glutamates - pharmacology; Injections, Intraperitoneal - adverse effects; Male; Norepinephrine - metabolism; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Seizures - chemically induced; Seizures - metabolism; Sodium Glutamate - pharmacology; Spectrometry, Fluorescence; Stress, Physiological - metabolism
• ISSN: 0306-3623
• DOI: 10.1016/0306-3623(85)90009-6

Norepinephrine (NE) and dopamine (DA) levels in various brain regions were measured in a model of experimentally produced convulsions by monosodium L-glutamate (MSG) administration to adult rats. Stress by injection of all solutions produced a 60% decrease in NE level in forebrain, recovering its basal value at 15 min after injection. A significant reduction of brain NE and DA levels of MSG-injected animals was found in the preconvulsive stage, particularly in the forebrain. No significant variations in catecholamine levels were seen in brain stem and cerebellum as a result of MSG injection. It is suggested that the changes found in endogenous catecholamine concentration in the forebrain may play a physiological role in the mechanisms of production of convulsions in the MSG model.