Adrenaline, noradrenaline and dopamine levels in brain and heart after administration of 6-hydroxydopamine and guanethedine to newborn mice

Abstract

The adrenaline, noradrenaline and dopamine levels of the whole brain and heart of mice were measured spectrofluorimetrically after subcutaneous injection at birth with 6-hydroxydopamine or guanethedine. 6-Hydroxydopamine decreased noradrenaline and dopamine levels in brain tissue within 15 days after administration. Dopamine recovered within 45 days to an almost normal level. Both noradrenaline and dopamine decreased initially after guanethedine treatment, but differences from control values were insignificant 7 months after treatment. Dopamine and noradrenaline levels in heart decreased after both 6-hydroxydopamine and guanethedine treatment. The effect on adrenaline levels in brain and heart was statistically insignificant. It is suggested that 6-hydroxydopamine and guanethedine may cause long-lasting lesions in some catecholamine containing neurons in the central nervous system.