Association of Peripheral Plasma Neurotransmitters with Cognitive Performance in Chronic High-altitude Exposure.

Abstract

Long-term living at high altitude causes significant impairment of cognitive function. Central neurotransmitters are potential mediators of cognitive performance. We aimed to determine whether there were significant associations between select peripheral plasma neurotransmitters and cognitive performance in humans with chronic high-altitude (HA) exposure and to determine the association between peripheral plasma neurotransmitters and brain neurotransmitters in rats after chronic hypobaric hypoxia (HH) exposure. We demonstrated that 3,4-dihydroxy-L-phenylalanine (DOPA), dopamine, serotonin, 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid (5-HIAA) and GABA in the peripheral plasma were associated with cognitive performance in humans with HA exposure. Consistent with this result, peripheral plasma DOPA, dopamine, serotonin, 5-HIAA and glutamate were associated with brain neurotransmitter levels after chronic HH exposure in rats. These results provide experimental data indicating that neurotransmitter levels and cognitive performance are modified in chronic high-altitude exposure, with a possible causal effect.

• Authors: Zhifeng Zhong, Simin Zhou, Bin Xiang, Yu Wu, Jiaxin Xie, Peng Li
• Journal: Neuroscience (Neuroscience) Vol. 463 Pg. 97-107 (05 21 2021) ISSN: 1873-7544 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 33540052 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Neurotransmitter Agents

Topics

• Altitude
• Altitude Sickness
• Animals
• Cognition
• Hypoxia
• Neurotransmitter Agents
• Rats
• Rats, Sprague-Dawley