Alterations of putative neurotransmitters and enzymes during ischemia in gerbil cerebral cortex.

Bilateral occlusion of common carotid arteries in Mongolian gerbils was produced for the periods (up to 15 min) which were shown to be totally reversible. There was an initial increase of cyclic AMP and GABA levels and enhanced activities of adenylate cyclase and glutamate decarboxylase, as well as the reduction of norepinephrine level and decreased activities of monoamine oxidase, GABA-transaminase and Na+-K+-ATPase. Following these changes, decreased concentration of dopamine, serotinin and glutamate were found. The activities of total protein kinase and acetylcholinesterase were found to be reduced after longer periods of short-term ischemia. The data are consistent with the concept of increased non-controled release of putative neurotransmitters in ischemia.