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Effect of chronic transection on dopamine, noradrenaline and 5-hydroxytryptamine in the rat spinal cord

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Summary

For intervals up to 15 days after transection of the rat spinal cord the level of noradrenaline (NA), dopamine (DA), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) and tryptophan were studied above and below the lesions. In the upper part NA, DA and 5-HT increased continuously, while 5-HIAA increased during the first 3 to 5 days and then returned to its original level. In the lower part NA had disappeared almost completely after 15 days, DA after 9 days, 5-HT and 5-HIAA after 5 days. During the first day after transection 5-HT showed an increase in the lower part as did DA for the first 3 days. The different time course for DA and NA suggests that part of the spinal DA serves an independent non-precursor role.

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Magnusson, T. Effect of chronic transection on dopamine, noradrenaline and 5-hydroxytryptamine in the rat spinal cord. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Arch. Pharmacol. 278, 13–22 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00501859

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