INFLUENCE OF FORCED FOOD DEPRIVATION ON NORADRENALINE LEVEL IN THE CNS OF RABBITS

Aim. To study the content of noradrenaline in the mitochondria of the brain structures of 3-month-old rabbits in different periods of food deprivation and during restoration of the dietary regime. Materials and Methods. The object of study was 3-month-old rabbits. The experimental group was divided into subgroups depending on duration (1, 3 and 5 days) of food deprivation period and on 7-day period of restoration of the food regime. Noradrenaline was determined using universal fluorometric method. The original mitochondrial fraction was isolated from the brain by the method of Somogyi and Fonjo. The results obtained were statistically processed. Results. Forced food deprivation causes an increase in the level of noradrenaline in the mitochondrial fractions of the brain in 3-month-old rabbits. This increase depends on duration of food deprivation period and on the brain structure. After one-day food deprivation of 3-month-old rabbits, the content of noradrenaline in different brain structures increased by 10-26% compared with the control animals. On the 3rd and 5th day of food deprivation, the content of noradrenaline increased by 14-32% and 27-43%, respectively, compared with the control. In general, the effect of starvation was more evident in the hypothalamic noradrenergic systems. In the 7-day recovery of the food regime, a tendency to reduction of the content of noradrenaline was seen. Conclusion. In forced food deprivation the level of noradrenaline increased in different structures of the central nervous system. During restoration of the nutritional regime, the content of noradrenalin partially normalized.