Changes in dopamine, noradrenaline and adrenaline in specific septal and preoptic nuclei after acute immobilization stress.

Acute immobilization stress results in changes in the concentration of both dopamine and noradrenaline in specific forebrain limbic system areas, whereas the adrenaline levels remain unchanged. Changes in dopamine concentrations are more restricted than those in noradrenaline concentrations. Dopamine levels are increased in the nucleus preopticus medialis, 2 and 4 h after stress, and decreased in the nucleus septalis lateralis, throughout the acute stress period. The noradrenaline levels are also increased in the nucleus preopticus medialis 2 and 4 h after stress. In most septal stress, and in the nucleus interstitialis striae terminalis, the noradrenaline levels are decreased early during acute stress, but return to normal values after 2-4 h of continuous stress. In the nucleus septalis intermediate, on the other hand, the noradrenaline levels are increased, and the change occurs only after 4 h of stress. These results suggest a participation of both noradrenaline levels are increased, and the change occurs only after 4 h of stress. These results suggest a participation of both noradrenaline levels are increased, and the change occurs only after 4 h of stress. These results suggest a participation of both noradrenaline and dopamine neurons in the central response to the stress reaction and the existence of fast adaptive changes in the metabolism of these biogenic amines in specific areas of the limbic system during stress.