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.
On the other hand, Fujiwara and Mori (7) found that tetrabenazine and reserpine worsened stress-induced ulcers and that a MAO inhibitor prevented ulcers. This finding suggests that stress-induced ulcers correlate with an alteration in the central endogenous amines. It has also been found that chlorpromazine (CPZ) and imipramine have preventive effects on stress-induced ulcers (8-10), however effects of these drugs on CA metabolism under particular conditions have been little investigated.
The purpose of the present study was to examine the change of CA levels in the brain and adrenal medulla of rats subjected to stress producing peptic ulcers, and also the effects of psychotropic drugs on CA levels in the state.