Inhibition of stimulated dopamine release from striatum slices after hemorrhagic shock in the rat. Protective effect of piracetam.

The antihypoxic effect of piracetam was studied using a hemorrhagic shock model in the rat. Different shock severity was achieved by bleeding of 35% or 50% of estimated blood volume (EBV). Hemorrhagic shock caused an inhibition of K+ induced dopamine release from striatum slices in proportion to the magnitude of hemorrhage, reflecting the degree of membrane damage in dopaminergic transmission structures. Piracetam was effective in preventing the post-hemorrhagic changes in moderate shock and accelerated restitution of post-hemorrhagic release inhibition in severe shock.