Age variation in the increase of hypothalamic and brain stem contents of phenylethanolamine m-octopamine and p-octopamine in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SH kyoto)

Summary Phenylethanolamine, m=octopamine and p-octopamine contents were determined as a function of age in the hypothalamus and brain stem of spontaneously hypertensive rats and controls Wistar Kyoto. In hypothalamus, the content of the 3 amines was 2–4-fold greater for the SH rats. In the brain stem, the phenylethanolamine and p-octopamine contents were 2–3-fold greater in SH rats but 5–6-fold higher in the case of m-octopamine. The difference appears at 3 weeks and correlates the blood pressure with the increase of age. The significance of these findings is discussed.This work has been completed at the Tokyo University. The author is grateful to Professor Z. Tamura, Dr K. Imai and A. Ooshima as well as to the French Foreign Office and the Japanese Society for the Promotion of Sciences.