Neurotransmitter Content of Mouse Brain after Inactivation by Microwave Heating.

摘要

In most assay schemes for neurotransmitters, the brains of experimental animals are removed quickly and immediately homogenized in protein precipitants or in solvents, e.g., acidified butanol, or are quick frozen and stored at low temperatures. Depending upon the species, removal of the brain can require up to one minute or more. Since the turnover rates for synthesis and metabolism of the adrenergic, dopaminergic and serotoninergic pathways are relatively slow, very rapid inactivation of brain enzymes does not seem to be essential in assays for these amines. This is not the case for acetylcholine (Stavinoha, et al, 1973). An assay was made of norepinephrine, dopamine, serotonin, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid and homovanillic acid in mouse brain after rapid microwave inactivation of brain enzymes.