The effect of acute hypoxia with hypercapnia on the content of monoamines in symmetrical areas of the brain in albino mice

Abstract

Changes in the activity of monoaminergic systems of the left and right hemispheres of the brain after acute hypoxia with hypercapnia were investigated in male albino mice. The concentrations of dopamine (DA), serotonin (5-HT) and their metabolites dihydroxyphenylacetic (DOPAC), homovanilic (HVA) and 5-hydroxyindolacetic (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 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 has been 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, in the hippocampus, the left-sided increase of the DA content was revealed. 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.