EFFECT OF RESERPINE ON CELL-PROLIFERATION AND ENERGY STORES IN THE DEVELOPING RAT-BRAIN

Administration of reserpine resulted in a dose-dependent progressive reduction in the rate of [3H]thymidine incorporation into brain deoxyribonucleic acid. The depression reached a nadir of approximately 45% and 70% of the control levels in the forebrain and the cerebellum respectively at a dose of about 1.5 mg/kg. The half maximal effect in the forebrain was obtained with 0.1-0.2 mg/kg reserpine. Reserpine at a dose of 2.5 mg/kg had no effect on the cerebral concentrations of adenosine 5′-mono, di- or triphosphates, lactate and glutamate, while the levels of creating phosphate and glucose were significantly elevated. It seems, therefore, that the depression of cell proliferation in the developing brain is not mediated through an effect of reserpine on the availability of adenosine 5′-triphosphate. Since other side-effects of the drug can also be excluded the results are consistent with an action of reserpine on replicating cells either directly or in an indirect way via changes in transmitter balance and thus affecting regulatory processes involving neurohumoral receptors. © 1979.