Citation

West M, LaBella FS, Havlicek V, Parkinson D. Brain Res. 1981; 225(2): 271-277.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1981, International Brain Research Organization, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

6272930

Abstract

Conscious male adult rats were concussed by a blow to the occiput with a blunt dart, shot from a spring-loaded pistol. Animals were decapitated within 2 sec, brains quickly removed, several brain regions homogenized in cold buffer and radioreceptor assays carried out. There was a 20% increase in binding of [3H]naloxone and [3H]QNB in the hypothalamus but not in the amygdala, striatum, hippocampus, cortex, midbrain and hindbrain. For animals killed 5-10 sec after concussion, when normal conscious behavior had returned, there were no changes in binding between control and concussed rats. Binding of [3H]spiroperidol and [3H]ouabain was unaffected by concussion. To rule out changes due to non-specific stress, one series of rats received a blow to the lower body. There was no change from control in [3H]QNB binding to hypothalamic tissues by a body blow as compared with the blow to the head. The findings suggests decreased binding of endogenous endorphins and acetylcholine to their respective receptors as a result of concussion. The transient deficit in endogenous transmitter binding may temporarily interrupt hypothalamic circuits concerned with the state of consciousness.

Language: en