[Adrenocortical hormone rhythm in blood and metabolism of the hypothalamic biogenic amines in rats].

Restricted daily feeding (RF), in which free access to food and water is restricted to a fixed time of the day, has been demonstrated to elevate the plasma corticosterone level in rats prior to meal (prefeeding corticosterone peak). But the central mechanism for the hormone peak is unknown. In this study, the metabolism of the hypothalamic biogenic amines was investigated to know whether or not it was associated with the prefeeding corticosterone peak under RF. Male rats were subjected to RF (meal time from 10:00 to 12:00 h) under the light-dark cycle (lights from 06:00 to 18:00 h). Norepinephrine metabolism was estimated from the rate of decrease in norepinephrine content after the administration of a synthesis blocker, alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine (alpha-MPT). Dopamine and serotonin metabolisms were estimated from the accumulation rate of precursor amine after the inhibition of aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase by m hydroxybenzylhydrazine (NSD 1015). Rats were sacrificed by decapitation and four hypothalamic nuclei (SCN, PVN, VMH, LH) were punched out according to Palkovits method. Amine contents in each nucleus were measured by HPLC. Results obtained are as follows; 1) Catecholamine was significantly involved in the formation of prefeeding corticosterone peak under RF in rats. 2) Norepinephrine metabolism was different in each hypothalamic nucleus. Especially, that in PVN seems to be parallel with the plasma corticosterone level under RF. This result suggests that norepinephrine in PVN stimulates corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH). 3) Dopamine metabolism in the four hypothalamic nuclei showed similar changes; prefeeding rise (except for VMH), high activity during feeding, decrease after food deprivation, and persistence of high activity during fast. 4) Serotonin metabolism in the four hypothalamic nuclei showed similar changes; prefeeding rise (except for VMH), decrease during feeding, and persistence of high activity during fast.