Skip to main content
Log in

Norepinephrine metabolism in the rat brain following acute and chronic administration of thyrotropin releasing hormone

  • Original Investigations
  • Laboratory Studies
  • Published:
Psychopharmacologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Synthetic thyrotropin releasing hormone (TBH) was administered to albino rats in order to determine the effects of this drug on norepinephrine-H3 metabolism in the brain. With the possible exception of a slight enhancement of release, acute or chronic administration of TRH had little effect on the disposition and metabolism of norepinephrine-H3 in rat brain. In addition, no significant changes were found in brain levels of endogenous norepinephrine, serotonin or dopamine following the injection of TRH. Thus, little evidence was found to support a possible relationship between the reported clinical antidepressant activity of TRH and its effects on norepinephrine metabolism in brain.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Anton, A. H., Sayre, D. F.: A study of the factors affecting aluminum oxidetrihydroxyindole procedure for the analysis of catecholamines. J. Pharmacol. exp. Ther. 138, 360–370 (1962)

    Google Scholar 

  • Breese, G. R., Cooper, B. R., Prange, A. J., Jr., Cott, J. M., Lipton, M. A.: Interactions of the thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) with centrally acting drugs. In: The thyroid axis, drugs and behavior. A. J. Prange, Jr., Ed. New York: Raven Press (in press)

  • Carlsson, A., Waldeck, B.: A fluorimetric method for the determination of dopamine (3-hydroxytyramine). Acta physiol. scand. 44, 293–298 (1958)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kastin, A. J., Ehrensing, R. H., Schalen, D. S., Anderson, M. S.: Improvement in mental depression with decreased thyrotropin response after administration of thyrotropin-releasing hormone. Lancet 1972 II, 740–742

    Google Scholar 

  • Plotnikoff, N. P., Prange, A. J., Jr., Breese, G. R., Anderson, M. S., Wilson, I. C.: Thyrotropin releasing hormone: Enhancement of dopa activity by a hypothalamic hormone. Science 178, 417–418 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Plotnikoff, N. P., Prange, A. J., Jr., Breese, G. R., Anderson, M. S., Wilson, I. C.: The effects of thyrotropin releasing hormone in normal, hypophysectomized, and thyroidectomized animals. In: The thyroid axis, drugs and behavior. A. J. Prange, Jr., Ed. New York: Raven Press (in press)

  • Prange, A. J., Jr., Wilson, I. C.: Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) for the immediate relief of depression: A preliminary report. Psychopharmacologia (Berl.) Suppl. 26, 82 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Prange, A. J., Jr., Wilson, I. C., Lara, P. P., Alltop, L. B., Breese, G. R.: Effects of thyrotropin-releasing hormone in depression. Lancet 1972 II, 999–1002

    Google Scholar 

  • Sandler, M., Goodwin, B. L., Leask, B. G. S., Ruthven, C. R. J.: Melanocyte-stimulating hormone and Parkinsonism: The role of hypothalamic releasing factors. Lancet 1973 I, 612

    Google Scholar 

  • Schanberg, S. M., Schildkraut, J. J., Kopin, I. J.: The effects of pentobarbital on the fate of intracisternally administered norepinephrine-H3. J. Pharmacol. exp. Ther. 157, 311–318 (1967)

    Google Scholar 

  • Schildkraut, J. J.: Neuropsychopharmacology and the affective disorders. Boston: Little, Brown and Comp. 1970a

    Google Scholar 

  • Schildkraut, J. J.: Tranylcypromine: Effects on norepinephrine metabolism in rat brain. Amer. J. Psychiat. 126, 925–931 (1970b)

    Google Scholar 

  • Schildkraut, J. J., Schanberg, S. M., Breese, G. R., Kopin, I. J.: Norepinephrine metabolism and drugs used in the affective disorders: A possible mechanism of action. Amer. J. Psychiat. 124, 600–608 (1967)

    Google Scholar 

  • Snyder, S. H., Axelrod, J., Zweig, M.: A sensitive and specific fluorescence assay for tissue serotonin. Biochem. Pharmacol. 14, 831–835 (1965)

    Google Scholar 

  • Tuomisto, J., Mannisto, P.: Amine uptake and thyrotropin-releasing hormone. Lancet 1973 I, 836

    Google Scholar 

  • Van der Vis-Melsen, M. J. E., Wiener, J. D.: Improvement in mental depression with decreased thyrotropin response after administration of thyrotropinreleasing hormone. Lancet 1972 II, 1415

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Reigle, T.G., Avni, J., Platz, P.A. et al. Norepinephrine metabolism in the rat brain following acute and chronic administration of thyrotropin releasing hormone. Psychopharmacologia 37, 1–6 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00426676

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00426676

Key words

Navigation