Abstract
THE preceding communication contains data refuting the rise in catecholamines which we had observed 20 min. after the subcutaneous injection of reserpine (0.1 mgm./kgm.). In repeating the experiment in order to check the questioned specificity of the analytical method, we found that we were unable to reproduce our original findings. Instead, the brain catecholamine-levels expressed as percentage of controls were found to be 105, 100, 64, 26, 37 and 31 per cent after 1/3, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 72 hr. The shape of the curve was very much like that observed for serotonin and the 4-hr. values agreed with those reported by Orlans and Brodie. We are, at present, unable to detect the factors in the original experiments which gave us the values we reported, but we intend to pursue this matter further. In spite of this discrepancy, the serotonin values remain undisputed and the main conclusion remains valid, namely, that there exists no correlation between the levels of brain amines and the intensity of observable effects.
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Brodie, B. B., Finger, K. F., Orlans, F. B., Quinn, G. P., and Sulser, F., J. Pharmacol. Exp. Therap., 129, 250 (1960).
Sheppard, H., Tsien, W. H., Plummer, A. J., Peets, E. A., Giletti, B. J., and Schulert, A. R., Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med., 97, 717 (1958).
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SHEPPARD, H., ZIMMERMAN, J. A Suggested Effect on Levels of Catecholamina in Brain produced by Small Doses of Reserpine. Nature 187, 1035 (1960). https://doi.org/10.1038/1871035a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/1871035a0
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