Changes of concentration of cyclic AMP in rat brain and plasma in the clinical death model

In the experimental model of clinical death in rats (Korpachev et al. 1982) cyclic AMP concentrations were evaluated in the brain and plasma at the end of 5-min clinical death, and 5, 15, 30, 60 and 120 min after resuscitation. The cAMP 125I assay system has been used. At the end of clinical death the cAMP level decreased in the brain with normalization 15 min after resuscitation; the second decrease of the cAMP level was observed 30 min post resuscitation with normalization in later periods. In the plasma cAMP concentration did not change at the end of clinical death, followed by a significant increase 5 min after resuscitation. Later the level of plasma cAMP decreased being still above the control value after 2 hours. The possible role of endogenous catecholamines stimulation on adenylate cyclase activity is discussed.