Abstract
Bilateral Olfactory Bulb Removal (OBR) induced both complex behavioral alterations and a decrease of many neurotransmitter levels. We studied brain levels of the pro-enkephalin related peptides 45 days after OBR. Opioid levels were studied using three different highly specific antisera exhibiting very high affinities in radioimmunoassays in striatum, hypothalamus, hypophysis, brain stem and cortex. Methionine enkephalin levels increase significantly in striatum (42%), hypophysis (94%) and hypothalamus (25%) and non-significantly in the other areas. Leucine-enkephalin levels tended to increase in all dissected structures but a significant increase only occured in striatum (42%). Octapeptide levels (Methionine-enkephalin-Arg-Gly-Leu) significantly increase in striatum (22%) and decrease in hypophysis (97%) and in brain stem (76%). All these results are partially consistent with the decrease of opiate binding described previously after OBR and suggest a complex imbalance in neurotransmitters after such a sensorial deprivation. It is suggested that the modifications of enkephalinergic neurotransmission might be related to the stressful state induced by OBR.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
