Changes in neurotransmitter metabolism following olfactory bulbectomy in the rat

Bilateral ablation of the olfactory bulbs caused marked changes in the 'turnover' of several neurotransmitters in the amygdaloid cortex and the mid-brain areas of the rat brain. Following tyrosine and tryptophan hydroxylase inhibition, the decrease in the concentration of noradrenaline and serotonin respectively in the amygdaloid cortex was not so marked in the bulbectomized rats as in their controls. This suggests that the 'turnover' of these biogenic amines is reduced following bulbectomy. Following GABA transaminase inhibition, the increase in the concentration of GABA in this region was increased compared to the controls thereby suggesting that the 'turnover' of the inhibitory neurotransmitter was enhanced, glutamate decarboxylase activity was also increased in the amygdaloid cortex. No changes were found in the 'turnover' of noradrenaline or serotonin in the mid-brain but that of dopamine was decreased as was the activity of glutamate decarboxylase. It is concluded that changes in neurotransmitter 'turnover' in these brain regions are attributable to the destruction of the olfactory bulbs and may contribute to the behavioural deficits which we, and others, have reported elsewhere.