Alcohol stimulates the release of dopamine and serotonin in the nucleus accumbens.
The effects of acute IP administration (0.5, 1.0 or 2.0 g/kg) and local perfusion (25, 50 or 100 mM) of ethanol on the extracellular concentrations of dopamine (DA), serotonin (5-HT) and their metabolites in the nucleus accumbens (ACC) of the rat were studied with in vivo microdialysis coupled with a small-bore HPLC electrochemical detection procedure. The IP administration of 1.0 and 2.0 g/kg ethanol significantly (p less than 0.05) increased the extracellular levels of DA and 5-HT in the ACC whereas the 0.5 g/kg dose caused no change. In general, the extracellular levels of the 3 monoamine metabolites were not altered by IP ethanol except for a slight increase in the levels of homovanillic acid following the 2.0 g/kg dose. Local perfusion of 50 and 100 mM ethanol (but not 25 mM) through the microdialysis probe markedly increased (170-200% of control) the extracellular levels of DA in the ACC. Only the 100 mM concentration of ethanol altered the extracellular levels of 5-HT (2-fold increase), 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid. Addition of 100 microM ICS 205-930 (a 5-HT3 antagonist) to the perfusate markedly reduced the 100 mM ethanol-stimulated release of DA and 5-HT. Overall, the data suggest that ethanol can stimulate the release of both DA and 5-HT in the ACC and that the action of ethanol within the ACC may be mediated in part by 5-HT3 receptors.
Department of Psychiatry, Regenstrief Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis.
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K
Yoshimoto
W J
WJ
McBride
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L
Lumeng
T K
TK
Li
D015102:3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003956:Dialysis; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006719:Homovanillic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D009714:Nucleus Accumbens / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*
D015102:3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid; D012701:Serotonin; D000431:Ethanol; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid; D004298:Dopamine; D006719:Homovanillic Acid