The Effect of Acute Hypoxia with Hypercapnia on the Monoamine Content in Symmetrical Brain Areas of Albino Mice

Abstract

Changes in the activity of monoaminergic systems of the left and right hemispheres of the brain were investigated in male albino mice after acute hypoxia with hypercapnia. The concentrations of dopamine (DA), serotonin (5-HT) and their metabolites dihydroxyphenylacetic (DOPAC), homovanillic (HVA), and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic (5-HIAA) acids were measured by HPLC in the brain cortex, hippocampus, and striatum of the right and the left hemispheres. In the control mice (which were not exposed to hypoxia with hypercapnia), a higher concentration of DA in the left cortex was detected. No asymmetry in the content of other substances was identified in the investigated structures. Acute hypoxia with hypercapnia led to the right-sided increase of DA and 5-HT levels and to the left-sided reduction DOPAC in the cerebral cortex. Under the condition of hypoxia with hypercapnia, the left-sided increase of the DA content was detected in the hippocampus. In the striatum the contents of monoamines and their metabolites were insignificantly changed. It has been concluded that acute hypoxia with hypercapnia causes asymmetric changes in monoaminergic systems of the archicortex and the neocortex.