Alteration of biogenic amines in mouse brain regions by alkylating agents. I. Effects of aflatoxin B1 on brain monoamines concentrations and activities of metabolizing enzymes.

Young adult male CD-1 mice were treated orally twice weekly for three weeks with 0, 0.05, 0.15 or 0.65 mg/kg of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in corn oil. Two days after the last dose, the mice were killed by decapitation and the concentrations of the brain catecholamines, norepinephrine (NE), and dopamine (DA), and their metabolites, 3-methoxy-4-hydroxymandelic (VMA), homovanillic acid (HVA) and dihydroxyphenyl acetic acid (DOPAC) and the indoleamine serotonin (5-HT) and its metabolite, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) were determined by high pressure liquid chromatography in six discrete brain regions. Major effects of AFB1 were found in the concentrations of NE in most brain areas. Endogenous concentrations of DA were increased in the striatum and hypothalamus. The VMA level in the hypothalamus and striatum were decreased by the treatment. The activity of tyrosine hydroxylase, tryptophan hydroxylase, amino acid decarboxylase and monoamine oxidase (the enzymes important in synthetic and degradation pathways of biogenic amines) were investigated. Alterations in biogenic amine concentrations were often consistent with the changes observed in metabolizing enzymes. There was an increase noted in tryptophan hydroxylase activity. Activities of amino acid decarboxylase and monoamine oxidase were increased although the changes were not consistent in all regions or at all dose levels of AFB1. These results suggest that dietary exposure to AFB1 diets may cause alterations in various biogenic amine concentrations and related metabolizing enzymes.