Influence of age, sex and hypoxia on plasma dopamine-beta-hydroxylase activity in the rat

Using rats (Wistar strain) of our own breed, we studied dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (E.C. 1.14.17.1) (DBH) activity in the plasma of animals of different ages (in correlation to sex) under normal conditions and after exposure to altitude hypoxia (corresponding to 7000 or 9000 m and lasting 20 min). The enzyme was determined by the method of Kato et al. (1974). We found that the given plasma enzyme activity was significantly higher in females than in males, throughout the whole life-span. In addition, we found that minimum activity was reached on about the 14th and 21st day of postnatal life and again on the 40th day, while maximum activity was recorded at the ages of 5, 30 and 35 days and in adult rats. In adult animals (males and females), exposure to altitude hypoxia was followed by a statistically significant increase in plasma DBH activity, which was much more pronounced in females than in males. In males, 240 min after terminating hypoxia plasma DBH activity had returned to normal, but in females it was still significantly raised; after 48 h, plasma DBH activity in females was identical to the activity before exposure to hypoxia. In rats aged 5 and 35 days, hypoxia evoked a fluctuating response. A decrease in activity immediately after terminating hypoxia was followed at 60 min by a return to normal, but at 240 min there was again a significant decrease. In 21-day-old rats, hypoxia did not induce any significant change in plasma DBH activity (the initial activity level in this group was very low).