Changes in brain dopamine levels and aggressive behavior with aging in 2 mouse strains

Summary The genetic programming of brain monoamine changes with aging show remarkable differences in 2 mouse strains. A marked increase in dopamine occurred in 32-week-old grouped ICR mice and the males showed intense irritability and aggressive behavior. Brain amines changed only slightly in old C57BL6J mice and behavior remained benign. Old females showed similar amine changes but aggressive behavior did not occur in either strain.     

Number of dopamine neurons predicts prolactin levels in two inbred mouse strains

Summary Mice of the BALB/cJ strain have more dopamine neurons than mice of the CBA/J strain. We now report that BALB/cJ mice have less circulating and pituitary prolactin than CBA/J mice, a relationship expected from the difference in tuberoinfundibular dopamine neuron number.     

Number of dopamine neurons predicts prolactin levels in two inbred mouse strains

Mice of the BALB/cJ strain have more dopamine neurons than mice of the CBA/J strain. We now report that BALB/cJ mice have less circulating and pituitary prolactin than CBA/J mice, a relationship expected from the difference in tuberoinfundibular dopamine neuron number.     

Early and selective increase in brain dopamine levels after axotomy

Résumé Nous avons étudié les concentrations de dopamine et de noradrénaline du prosencéphale après lésion unilatérale des neurones monoaminergiques correspondants. Les deux méthodes employées soit biochimique et histochimique ont mis en évidence sensiblement le même phénomène, à savoir: une augmentation importante et rapide du taux de dopamine entre 15 min et 24 h suivie d'une chute due selon toutes probabilités à la dégénerescence axonale. Quand à la noradrénaline, seule la deuxièmephase, la chute, a pu être observée.     

Differential diurnal variations of anandamide and 2-arachidonoyl-glycerol levels in rat brain

The endogenous ligands of cannabinoid receptors, also known as endocannabinoids, have been implicated in many physiological and pathological processes of the central nervous system. Here we show that the levels of the two major endocannabinoids, anandamide and 2-arachidonoyl-glycerol (2-AG), in four areas of the rat brain, change dramatically between the light and dark phases of the day. While anandamide levels in the nucleus accumbens, pre-frontal cortex, striatum and hippocampus were significantly higher in the dark phase, the opposite was observed with 2-AG, whose levels were significantly higher during the light phase in all four regions. We found that the activity of the fatty acid amide hydrolase, which catalyzes the metabolism of anandamide, was significantly lower during the dark phase, thus providing a possible explaination for the increase in anandamide levels. However, the activities of monoacylglycerol lipase and diacylglycerol lipase, two of the possible enzymes catalyzing the degradation and biosynthesis of 2-AG, respectively, changed significantly only in the striatum. These data suggest that the levels of the two major endocannabinoids might be under the control of endogenous factors known to undergo diurnal variations, and underscore the different roles, suggested by previous studies, of anandamide and 2-AG in neurophysiological processes.Received 9 December 2003; received after revision 15 January 2004; accepted 20 January 2004     

Occurrence and distribution of dopamine in brain and other tissues

Zusammenfassung Dopamin kommt im Gehirn aller untersuchten Säugetiere ausschliesslich im Corpus striatum vor. In andern Organen der untersuchten Tierarten ist der Dopamingehalt sehr gering, mit Ausnahme einzelner Organe bei Schafen und Kühen. Die Veränderung der Motorik von Versuchstieren durch Arzneimittel, welche den Dopamingehalt der Basalganglien beeinflussen, und die Lokalisation von Dopamin im Gehirn sprechen dafür, dass Dopamin für die Funktion der Basalganglien von Bedeutung ist.     

Spontaneous maze ambulation in two mouse strains

Summary A simple device is described, which permits us to quantify several parameters of spontaneous behaviour of small animals. Using this device with mice we obtained statistically satisfactory results, showing a strong genetic influence on the behavioural characteristics tested.We wish to thank Mr R. Laplace for technical help, Mr J. P. Arnould for electronic work as well as I.N.S.E.R.M.-SCR 3.     

Arylsulfatase B synthesis and clearance in inbred mouse strains

Arylsulfatase B activity levels were approximately 2-3-fold higher in adult C57BL/6J liver and kidney compared to corresponding tissues from A/J inbred mice. In vivo incorporation of tritiated leucine into C57BL/6J hepatic arylsulfatase B reached a maximum approximately 15 h after injection. The label was cleared from C57BL/6J arylsulfatase B with an apparent half-life of 36 h. The relative rates of synthesis of C57BL/6J and A/J arylsulfatase B were similar; however, the A/J enzyme was cleared more rapidly from liver tissue. C57BL/6J kidney arylsulfatase B appeared to be synthesized at a 2-3-fold higher rate than the corresponding A/J enzyme. These trends suggest genetic regulation of arylsulfatase B is effected through different means in liver and kidney from adult mice of these two inbred strains.     

l-DOPA administration to neonate chicks: Effects on behavior and levels of brain biogenic amines

Zusammenfassung Nachweis, dass bei Küken die i.v. Injektion vonl-Dopa (100 mg/kg) eine sofortige Überaktivität herbeiführt. Nach 10 min wurde im Gehirn eine Verminderung des Serotoningehaltes (14%) und eine Erhöhung des Dopamingehaltes (12fach) festgestellt, während Adrenalin, Noradrenalin und Histamin unverändert blieben.

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The author (JPH) was supported in part by a National Science Foundation Predoctoral Traineeship.     

Effects of selective dopamine D1 and D2 antagonists on male rat sexual behavior

Summary The effects of selective dopamine (DA) D₁ and D₂ antagonists on male rat sexual behavior were investigated. The D₁ antagonist (+)SCH-23390, 25–100 g kg^–1 s.c. –20 min, and the D₂ antagonist raclopride, 0.1–1.6 mg kg^–1 s.c., –20 min, decreased both the number of mounts and intromissions preceding ejaculation. No statistically significant effects in the time up to ejaculation or in the time up to the first intromission were noted, whereas both compounds produced a statistically significant increase in the post-ejaculatory interval. The effect can generally be characterized as psychomotor inhibition, and no evidence was obtained for a specific role of DA D₁ or D₂ receptors in the mediation of male rat sexual behavior.The expert technical assistance of Ms Elisabeth Wallin is gratefully acknowledged. The figures were skilfully prepared by Ms Madelene Kröning at the Department of Psychology. This study received support from the Bank of Sweden tercentenary Foundation, The Swedish MRC and Wilhelm and Martina Lundgren Foundation.     

Effects of selective dopamine D1 and D2 antagonists on male rat sexual behavior

The effects of selective dopamine (DA) D1 and D2 antagonists on male rat sexual behavior were investigated. The D1 antagonist (+)SCH-23390, 25-100 micrograms kg-1 s.c. -20 min, and the D2 antagonist raclopride, 0.1-1.6 mg kg-1 s.c., -20 min, decreased both the number of mounts and intromissions preceding ejaculation. No statistically significant effects in the time up to ejaculation or in the time up to the first intromission were noted, whereas both compounds produced a statistically significant increase in the post-ejaculatory interval. The effect can generally be characterized as psychomotor inhibition, and no evidence was obtained for a specific role of DA D1 or D2 receptors in the mediation of male rat sexual behavior.     

Locomotor activity and regional brain noradrenaline levels in rats treated with prenylamine

Resumen Ratas inyectadas con diferentes dosis de prenylamina (gluconato) presentaron una marcada disminución de la actividad motora espontánea y de los niveles de noradrenalina en el hipotálamo, tálamo y corteza cerebral, pero no en el tegmento del mesencéfalo. Se detectó una estrecha relación entre la caída de la concentración de NA hipotalámica y la disminución de la actividad espontanea con las diferentes dosis de prenylamina empleadas.

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This work was supported in part by a grant from Hoetsch Laboratories. They also supplied us the drug Segontin® (prenylamine). A. O. D. is Associate Research of the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Técnicas de Argentina.