Abstract
Stressors, such as hypoxia and asphyxia induce CA secretion by the newborn's adrenal medulla. The effect of cold-stress upon adrenal CA content in the neonatal rat was assessed by exposing day old fed rat pups to either control temperature (25°C) or cold-stress (4°C) for 5 mins. The pups were dispatched and adrenal glands were immediately processed for measurement of norepinephrine (NE), epinephrine (EPI) and dopamine (DA) using high performance liquid chromatography and electrochemical detection.
There was a significant depletion of both NE and EPI with a significant increase in DA(p<0.05). The cold-stress used produces neither hypoxia nor respiratory acidosis (Barlow & Santulli, Surgery 77: 687-690,1975). The decreased adrenal CA content is then a direct response of the animal to the cold-stress. In conclusion, cold-stress,like hypoxia and/or asphyxia, depletes adrenal EPI and NE in the day old fed pup. The elevated DA suggests a compensatory CA synthesis in response to cold-stress. Full characterization of the CA response needs to be established.
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Hannigan, J., Witek-Janusek, L., Zeller, W. et al. NEWBORN RAT PUP ADRENAL CATECHOLAMINE (CA) DEPLETION BY COLD STRESS. Pediatr Res 18 (Suppl 4), 139 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198404001-00276
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198404001-00276