Serotonin and proteolytic enzymes in brain of irradiated animals

Early and late irradiation effects on biogenic amines (5-HT and NA) contents, intracellular hydrolytic enzyme activity and MAO in brain tissue was studied on mice and rats. In mice in the majority of cases (irradiated on the first day after birth) there occurs a remote effect of irradiation in the form of the increase in 5-HT content and different, species-dependent, changes in hydrolytic activity. Among early effects (24 hrs following the irradiation) the decrease in 5-HT and NA contents was stated in rats. These changes were accompanied by the increase in MAO and hydrolytic (proteolytic) activities.