CEREBRAL-CORTEX INJURY - EFFECT OF BLOCKERS OF REUPTAKE OF CATECHOLAMINES

In rats, surgical injury of the neocortex enhances the level of procho lecystokinin-mRNA in the ipsilateral cortex. This increase in prochole cystokinin gene expression was significantly reduced by the blockers o f catecholamine re-uptake nomifensine (4 mg/kg), cocaine (5 mg/kg) and (+)-oxaprotiline (1.5 mg/kg) given i.m. 30 min before the injury. The ganglionic blocking agent hexamethonium (3 mg/kg) prevented this effe ct of (+)-oxaprotiline and nomifensine. Also the alpha1-adrenoceptor a ntagonists corynanthine (2 mg/kg) and prazosin (2 mg/kg) blocked this effect of (+/-)-oxaprotiline (1.5 mg/kg). It is concluded that catecho lamines acting on alpha1-adrenoceptors can reduce the increase in proc holecystokinin-mRNA caused by cortex injury. The catecholamines may be released from the sympathetic nervous system.