Rat brain hypothalamic and hippocampal monoamine and hippocampal β-adrenergic receptor changes during pregnancy

Date
1992, 1992
Authors
Glaser J.
Russell V.A.
Taljaard J.J.F.
Glaser J.
Russell V.A.
Taljaard J.J.F.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
The concentration of noradrenaline (NA), dopamine (DA), serotonin (5-HT), and their metabolites was measured in hypothalamic and hippocampal brain tissue obtained from non-pregnant, 15- or 20-day pregnant and 4-day postpartum rats. At 20 days of pregnancy, hypothalamic NA and DA concentrations were significantly decreased and their turnover increased relative to postpartum and estrous values, respectively. Hippocampal 3-methoxy-4-hydroxy-phenylglycol (MHPG) levels were significantly decreased at 15 days of pregnancy and 4 days postpartum compared to estrous and 20-day pregnant levels and the MHPG/NA ratio was significantly reduced at 4 days postpartum relative to the estrous value. Hippocampal 5-HT and 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid (5-H1AA) levels were significantly decreased at 15 days of pregnancy while 5-HIAA levels and the 5-HIAA/5-HT ratio were significantly decreased at 20 days of pregnancy. Hippocampal β-adrenergic receptor density was significantly lower at 4 days postpartum than at 15 days of pregnancy. A positive correlation was observed between plasma progesterone and hippocampal β-adrenoceptor K(d) values, suggesting a possible causal relationship between these two variables. The monoamine and β-adrenoceptor changes which occur during pregnancy may be an important contributing factor in determining the mood changes which occur during pregnancy and postpartum.
The concentration of noradrenaline (NA), dopamine (DA), serotonin (5-HT), and their metabolites was measured in hypothalamic and hippocampal brain tissue obtained from non-pregnant, 15- or 20-day pregnant and 4-day postpartum rats. At 20 days of pregnancy, hypothalamic NA and DA concentrations were significantly decreased and their turnover increased relative to postpartum and estrous values, respectively. Hippocampal 3-methoxy-4-hydroxy-phenylglycol (MHPG) levels were significantly decreased at 15 days of pregnancy and 4 days postpartum compared to estrous and 20-day pregnant levels and the MHPG/NA ratio was significantly reduced at 4 days postpartum relative to the estrous value. Hippocampal 5-HT and 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid (5-H1AA) levels were significantly decreased at 15 days of pregnancy while 5-HIAA levels and the 5-HIAA/5-HT ratio were significantly decreased at 20 days of pregnancy. Hippocampal β-adrenergic receptor density was significantly lower at 4 days postpartum than at 15 days of pregnancy. A positive correlation was observed between plasma progesterone and hippocampal β-adrenoceptor K(d) values, suggesting a possible causal relationship between these two variables. The monoamine and β-adrenoceptor changes which occur during pregnancy may be an important contributing factor in determining the mood changes which occur during pregnancy and postpartum.
Description
Keywords
adrenergic receptor; cyanoiodopindolol; dopamine; noradrenalin; serotonin; animal experiment; animal tissue; article; controlled study; female; hippocampus; hypothalamus; nonhuman; pregnancy; priority journal; puerperium; rat; Animal; Biogenic Monoamines; Female; Hippocampus; Hypothalamus; Mood Disorders; Pregnancy; Progesterone; Puerperal Disorders; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Receptors, Adrenergic, beta; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, adrenergic receptor, cyanoiodopindolol, dopamine, noradrenalin, serotonin, animal experiment, animal tissue, article, controlled study, female, hippocampus, hypothalamus, nonhuman, pregnancy, priority journal, puerperium, rat, Animal, Biogenic Monoamines, Female, Hippocampus, Hypothalamus, Mood Disorders, Pregnancy, Progesterone, Puerperal Disorders, Rats, Rats, Inbred Strains, Receptors, Adrenergic, beta, Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Citation
Brain Research
577
2
Brain Research
577
2