TRANSPORT OF AN ANTIHYPOXIC DRUG STOBADINE ACROSS THE BLOOD-BRAIN-BARRIER IN RAT STRIATUM AND ITS INFLUENCE ON CATECHOLAMINE-OXIDATIVE CURRENT - A VOLTAMMETRIC STUDY UNDER NORMAL AND ANOXIC ISCHAEMIC CONDITIONS/

Differential pulse voltammetry with a carbon fibre microelectrode (ME) was used in pentobarbital-anaesthetized rats for monitoring the stoba dine current (STB.C) on both sides of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) in the arterial bloodstream (BS) and in the corpus striatum (CS). The ST B.C exhibited a distinct peak at a polarization voltage 540+/-30 mV (n =4). The maximum of STB.C in BS attained 2-3 min after the STB adminis tration (2.8 mg/100 g in 1.0 mi saline solution i.a.) was followed by a rapid decrease to about 20% within next 3 min. The STB readily passe d across the BBB: the STB.C peak appeared in the CS in the 3rd minute and continued to rise up to the 30th min. The administration of STB di d not prevent a large increase (1347+/-326%, n=3) of the catechol-oxid ative current (CA.OC) occurring in the CS between the 4th and 5th minu te after cardiac arrest. However, a decrease of ME sensitivity to CA.O C in the presence of STB was observed. This fact leads to the speculat ion whether a similar ''quenching'' of dopamine by STB could not parti cipate in the protective effects of STB observed in the brain exposed to hypoxia-reoxygenation.