Microspectrofluorometric characterization of amine accumulation proximal to lateral hypothalamic lesions

Microspectrofluorometry was employed to identify the spectral characteristics of the formaldehyde-induced fluorophore derived from amine accumulation proximal to the site of 6-hydroxydopamine injection or radiofrequency lesions in the lateral hypothalamus of Sprague-Dawley rats. The excitation and emission spectra of the accumulation were consistent with that of catecholamines in models subjected to similar formaldehyde treatment. These results indicate that while biochemical assay technique may not permit the quantification of amine accumulations, these areas do in fact represent degeneration associated increases in catecholamines which may be of functional significance.