Effect of Psychotropic Drugs on Catecholamines in Brain and Adrenal Medulla of Rats Under Stress Producing Peptic Ulcers

Abstract

It is well known that physical stress such as electroshock, exercise, immobilization, cold exposure, etc., produce significant alterations of catecholamine (CA) metabolism in the brain and adrenal medulla. The findings vary however with different types and intensities of stress used. Some investigators have reported the depletion of brain norepinephrine (NE) by cold exposure or electroshock (1, 2). Others have reported the elevation of brain NE by repeated electroshock, restraint, or cold exposure (3–5). Gordon et al. (6) observed an appreciable decrease in adrenal epinephrine (EP) despite little change in brain NE level by exercise.