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Effects of Electroconvulsive Stimuli and MK-801 on Neuropeptide Y, Neurokinin A, and Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide in Rat Brain

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Abstract

Rats were pretreated with 0.9% NaCl, or 0.1 or 1.0 mg/kg MK-801, an anticonvulsant and a psychotomimetic drug, and 60 minutes later given ECS or sham ECS. After six sessions the animals were sacrificed and neuropeptide Y (NPY-), neurokinin A (NKA-), and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP-) like immunoreactivity (-LI) measured with radioimmunoassays. ECS increased NPY-LI in frontal cortex, striatum, occipital cortex and hippocampus, and NKA-LI in occipital cortex and hippocampus. MK-801 increased CGRP in a dose-response manner in frontal cortex, and NKA-LI in occipital cortex. Although the higher MK-801 dose reduced seizure duration by 50%, the ECS induced NPY-LI increase in striatum, occipital cortex and hippocampus, and NKA-LI in occipital cortex was not diminished. In contrast, there was a parallel decrease in seizures and NPY-LI and NKA-LI changes in frontal cortex and hippocampus, respectively. Investigation of neuropeptides in brain may contribute to understanding of the mechanisms of action of antide-pressive and antipsychotic treatments and of psychotomimetic drugs.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institution of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute-St Görans Hospital, S-112 81, Stockholm, Sweden

    A. A. Mathé, S. Gruber & P. A. Jiménez

  2. Department of Clinical Chemistry, University Hospital, S-581 85, Linköping, Sweden

    E. Theodorsson

  3. Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Hospital, S-171 76, Stockholm, Sweden

    C. Stenfors

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  1. A. A. Mathé
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Mathé, A.A., Gruber, S., Jiménez, P.A. et al. Effects of Electroconvulsive Stimuli and MK-801 on Neuropeptide Y, Neurokinin A, and Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide in Rat Brain. Neurochem Res 22, 629–636 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022482322329

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