Brain anoxia releases striatal dopamine in rats

Immediately following death resulting from discontinuance of artificial respiration in anesthetized rats, a large increase in electrochemically reactive materials in the extracellular fluid was detected by in vivo voltammetry with an electrode in the striatum. The use of in vivo brain dialysis permitted identification of the reactive material as dopamine. The release of dopamine occurred about 6 minutes after cessation of artificial respiration and death. A similar release of dopamine was found after intrastriatal ouabain administration. A large release of dopamine might result in irreversible tissue damage in certain pathological conditions such as stroke or anoxia.