Biochemical changes in brain catecholamines and serotonin during gastric ulcer induced by cold restraint stress in male albino rats

ABSTRACT

The present study was undertaken to investigate the chronological effect of cold restraint stress on the profile of biogenic amines [epinephrine, norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin] in different areas of the brain, which are known to affect gastric function and are critically involved in the stress response [frontal cortex, hypothalamus and hippocampus]. Cold restraint stress was applied to pylorically ligated male albino rats in half hourly increasing duration [5-3 hr]. In the three selected brain areas, cold restraint stress produced a significant decrease in both norepinephrine and epinephrine concentrations and a significant increase in dopamine and serotonin levels. These changes in brain amines were significantly correlated with the increased duration of stress. The relevance of these findings was discussed