Brain catecholamines and serotonin levels in various strains and genera of mice and a possible interpretation for the correlations of amine levels with electroshock latency and behavior

Abstract

In a group of six genera and three strains of mice, widely differing in habitats and in behavioral profiles, the brain levels of DOPA, dopamine, norepinephrine, epinephrine, and serotonin were determined. Marked differences, up to three-fold, were found. Genera and strains with the highest levels of dopamine also had the highest levels of norepinephrine, epinephrine, and serotonin. Electroshock seizure latencies were well correlated with the biogenic amine levels; shorter latencies occurred in mice with low amine levels, longer latencies occurred in those with higher amine levels. A possible relationship between brain amines and certain behavioral characteristics of these genera is also discussed.