[Concentration of biogenic amines in different brain structures of the rat adapted to chronic emotional stress]

The level of noradrenaline (NA), dopamine (DA), serotonin (5-OT), and that of 5-oxyindolacetic acid was studied in four brain structures of rats having endured acute or chronic immobilization emotional stress. In stress adapted animals, NA level was normalized in the hypothalamus and increased in the midbrain. DA level was increased in the hypothalamus, the midbrain and the medulla, and 5-OT level was increased in most of the structures studied. During above-mentioned shifts, the animals did not react by additional changes of NA, DA, and 5-OT levels to subsequent immobilizations. Observed rearrangements of turnover of neurotransmitters may be considered as one of the forms of manifestation of chronic emotional stress adaptation mechanisms.