[Catecholamines in the brain structures of rats responding differently to the "open field" test].

Wistar rats divided into groups according to the open-field test showed essential differences in the catecholamine level in 3 out of eight principal catecholamine-synthesizing brain nuclei. In rats with a sharp decrease in crossing and rearing seen throughout the experiment, the adrenaline and dopamine levels in A1 area were significantly higher and the dopamine level in locus ceruleus and n. arcuatus was lower as compared with rats which were not so emotional. It is suggested that the open-field behavior of Wistar rats correlates with the brain catecholamine interplay, the main part being played by adrenaline-synthesizing neurons of A1 area, noradrenaline-synthesizing neurons of locus ceruleus and dopamine-synthesizing neurons of n. arcuatus.