Ascorbate blocks amphetamine-induced turning behavior in rats with unilateral nigro-striatal lesions.
Unilateral nigro-striatal lesions were produced in rats using 6-hydroxydopamine. Intraperitoneal injections of amphetamine induced circling behavior in these rats due to release of striatal dopamine contralateral to the lesion. Intraperitoneal injections of 1 g/kg of ascorbic acid elevated brain ascorbate. Ascorbate, like other drugs blocking dopamine receptors, attenuated the amphetamine-induced turning behavior. Thus, ascorbic acid might have a role in regulating dopaminergic transmission and could be of therapeutic value in disorders involving functional dopamine excess.
D000818:Animals; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001519:Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D003913:Dextroamphetamine / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004292:Dominance, Cerebral / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006892:Hydroxydopamines / Q000494:pharmacology; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine / Q000187:drug effects; D013239:Stereotyped Behavior / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D013378:Substantia Nigra / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
D006892:Hydroxydopamines; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine; D001205:Ascorbic Acid; D003913:Dextroamphetamine