Effects of hypoxia and cytidine (5') diphosphocholine on the concentrations of dopamine, norepinephrine and metabolites in rat hypothalamus and striatum.

Experiments were performed in order to determine whether exogenous cytidine (5') diphosphocholine (CDP-choline) opposes the effects of an acute hypobaric hypoxia on the metabolism of catecholamines in rat striatum and hypothalamus. Hypoxia decreased striatal HVA, DOPAC, 3 MT, hypothalamic norepinephrine (NE), and increased both striatal and hypothalamic dopamine (DA). CDP-choline (1000 mg X kg-1 p.o.; 1 or 3 days) was devoid of effects in normoxia, but partially reversed 3 MT, NE and DA changes, potentiated the HVA and DOPAC decrease in hypoxic rats. Our results suggest that hypoxia could impair neurotransmitter release and that treatment with CDP-choline (acute, and especially subacute administration) opposes this impairment.