Effect of ischemia on noradrenergic and energy-related metabolites in the cerebral cortex of young and adult gerbils

Cerebral ischemia in young and adult gerbils: effects on cholinergic metabolism

The effect of transient cerebral ischemia on cholinergic metabolism was investigated in adult and young gerbils subjected to bilateral carotid artery occlusion (15 min) alone or with release. Ischemia decreased brain acetylcholine (ACh) and increased choline (Ch) levels, affecting the young to a lesser degree than the adult gerbils. Blood recirculation induced a rapid early restoration of brain ACh levels in young animals, whereas a tremendous rebound of ACh was observed in the adults. After 2 h of reflow, Ch levels normalized in the adult brain, whereas a decreased choline level was seen in the young brain. This is the first study demonstrating an age-dependent susceptibility of cholinergic neurotransmission to cerebral ischemia.

Effect of cerebral ischemia on synaptosomal uptake and release of 3H-5-hydroxytryptamine in adult and young Mongolian gerbils

Cerebral ischemia induced by bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (15 min) with and without release (1 hr) served as a model for comparative regional studies of synaptosomal 3H-5-hydroxytryptamine (3H-5-HT) uptake and release in adult and young gerbils. A decreased uptake and an increased release of 5-HT was observed in the adult after ischemia alone and/or ischemia with reflow. At the same time, 5-HT uptake was not affected except in the cortex and the release was reduced in the young. These findings indicate that the same ischemic insults affect differently the synaptosomal uptake and/or release of 5-HT in adult and young brain.