Cyclic AMP in cereborspinal fluid of rats: effects of electroconvulsive shock.

The concentration of cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) was measured in cisternal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of male and female rats after electroconvulsive shock. cAMP levels were found to be increased compared to sham-treated controls for several hours following electroconvulsive shock with maximal increases of 46.8% in male and 17.2% in female rats. Old rats (300--360 g body weight) showed higher baseline concentrations than younger rats (180--250 g). In both groups female rats tended to have higher cAMP levels than male rats.