Effect of hypoxia on monoamine synthesis in brains of developing rats.

Tyrosine and tryptophan hydroxylase activity was studied in the postnatal rat brain in vivo by measuring the accumulation of dihydroxyphenylalanine and 5-hydroxytryptophan, respectively after inhibition of L-aromatic amino acid decarboxylase with NSD 1015. With increasing age there was a significant increase in the amount of dopa and 5-HTP accumulated in the brain after administration of NSD 1015. After 30 min in a 12% oxygen environment there were significant reductions of tyrosine hydroxylase and tryptophan hydroxylase activity at 1,14 and 28 but not 4 days of postnatal age. Further, the decrease in 5-HTP accumulation was significantly more marked at 14 and 28 days than at 1 day of age. Thus, the oxygen-dependent synthesis of the neurotransmitter 5-hydroxytryptamine seems to be less vulnerable in the early postnatal rat brain.