THE CATECHOLAMINE SENSITIVITY OF ADULT-RATS IS ENHANCED AFTER PRENATAL HYPOXIA

In this study, the effect of prenatal hypoxia on the catecholamine sen sitivity of the offspring of pregnant rats was investigated. The offsp ring from hypoxic animals showed after treatment with isoproterenol in adult age a distinctly more pronounced decrease of protein content an d enzyme activities in heart tissue as well as a significantly higher elevation of enzyme activities in blood plasma as compared with the of fspring from normoxic rats. These results suggest a long-lasting enhan cement of catecholamine sensitivity after prenatal oxygen deficiency.