[Changes in the catecholamine content of the dopamine-synthesizing nuclei of the brain in rats under immobilization stress].

Changes of catecholamines (CA) contents in dopamine (DA)--synthetizing nuclei of the midbrain and hypothalamus were measured by means of radioenzymatic technique in Wistar rats after 6.5 hrs of immobilization (IMO), the blood pressure (BP) being recorded in the tail artery. After decapitation, the gastric mucous membrane was examined. In substantia nigra (A9) a tendency toward an increase of the noradrenaline level was observed both during the rise and fall of the BP. In n.arquatus (A12) and n. periventricularis (A14) the changes of noradrenaline and dopamine concentration were in good agreement with the gastric mucous membrane lesion: the CA content was higher in rats with hemorrhages than in ones with ulcers. A sharp decrease of adrenaline content was observed in DA--synthetizing hypothalamic nuclei and it was not correlated with BP changes or injury in gastric mucous membrane.