[Rat brain catecholamines in the initial period of acute radiation exposure]

Total X-ray irradiation (0.21 C/kg of rats induces an hour later an increase in the dopamine and norepinephrine content in the grey matter by 11 and 60%, respectively. The spontaneous release of dopamine and norepinephrine from the brain synaptosomes of the irradiated rats falls causing a decrease of the initial rate of the process. Potassium chloride depolarization of synaptosome membranes of the control rat brain increases both the maximal and initial rate of the process of neuromediators' release; in irradiated animals only the maximal rate of the process grows, the initial rate of the dopamine release being unchanged and that of norepinephrine increasing but less that in the control. After irradiation maximal rate of the by synaptosomes dopamine uptake is 2.6 times as high, while that of norepinephrine is 4.6 times as low; Km of the highly specific uptake of norepinephrine decreases.