The effect of piracetam on posthypoxic dopamine release inhibition.

Subsequently to a hypoxic exposure of adult rats the stimulus induced release of dopamine from striatum slices in inhibited for several days. Depending on the treatment with piracetam the restitution of this inhibition is accelerated manifold, though piracetam does not prevent the acute effect of hypoxia on dopamine release. The particular hypoxia related vulnerability of the potassium evoked dopamine release and the time course of piracetam effect obviously point to drug induced anabolic processes rebuilding vesicle storage sites.