Changes of 5-HT & 5-HIAA Levels in Spinal Cord after Compression Injury / 第三军医大学学报

ABSTRACT

Changes of neurotransmitter 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT) and its metabolic product 5-hydroxyinaoleacetic acid(5-HIAA) in the spinal cord after comprssion injury in 10 dogs were studied. The spinal cords were compressed for 1 hour with a rubber balloon filled with 0.45ml water when the animals were under pento-barbital anesthesia and dissected after the sacrifice of the animals.The 5-HT and 5-HIAA contents in injured segments, the segments just above and below the injured part, and normal segments of the spinal cord were determined with the fluorometric method. It was found that the 5-HT levels in the segments just above and below the injury were markedly elevated, and the 5-HIAA levels in the injured segments were significantly lowered. It implies that the metabolism of the serotonergic nervous system in the injured segments is inhibited, while that in the segments abvoe or below the injury is enhanced. It is concluded that the serotonergic nervous system of the spinal cord can be involved in the pathophysiology of spinal cord injury.