Feasibility Study of Pharmacological Treatment to Reduce Morbidity and Mortality after Brain Injury
Abstract
A single dose of d-amphetamine (AMPH) facilitates the rate of recovery of function in rats following contusion of the right sensorimotor cortex. In this report we present the behavioral, biochemical and metabolic results of several studies on recovery from contusion injury: 1) the effect of a systemic injection of morphine 24 hours post contusion injury on behavior, 2) the effect of contusion and AMPH treatment on brain norepinephrine (NE) and dopamine (DA) levels, measured with HPLC with electrochemical detection, 3) the effect of partial lesion of locus coeruleus (LC) prior to contusion on behavior and brain NE levels, measured with HPLC with electrochemical detection, 4) the effect of intraventricular infusion of either NE or DA 24 hours following contusion injury on behavior, and 5) the effect of contusion and AMPH treatment on cerebral glucose metabolism, measured by the c-2-deoxyglucose method. Animals were trained on a specific beam-walking task prior to each study. Behavioral recovery of function was measured by the animal's ability to perform on this task following the specific manipulators. The results of these studies support the hypothesis that at least one aspect of the mechanism of AMPH facilitation of recovery of function is via the catecholaminergic NE neurotransmitter system. (SDW)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 15, 1988
- Accession Number
- ADA198531
Entities
People
- Dennis M. Feeney
Organizations
- University of New Mexico