Hereditary Diabetes insipidus in Rats

Abstract

Compared to heterozygous Brattleboro animals, homozygous (diabetes insipidus) rats exhibited higher steady-state levels of serotonin in the mesencephalon, septum and striatum. These differences disappeared upon the administration of pargyline, suggesting a decreased accumulation of serotonin. The norepinephrine level was higher in the mesencephalon, while the disappearance rate (.alpha.-methyl-p-tyrosine) was accelerated in the septum and decreased in the hypothalamus. The lower striatal dopamine level was associated with a decreased disappearance rate. The altered monoamine metabolism might be associated with the known endocrine and behavioral disturbances of the homozygous rats.