Neurotensin and cholecystokinin microinjected into the ventral tegmental area modulate microdialysate concentrations of dopamine and metabolites in the posterior nucleus accumbens.
Neurotensin and cholecystokinin, neuropeptides which coexist with dopamine in many ventral tegmental neurons, were microinjected into the ventral tegmental area during in vivo microdialysis in the posterior nucleus accumbens. Neurotensin significantly elevated concentrations of dopamine and its metabolites at doses of 10 pmol, 1 nmol, and 10 nmol, while cholecystokinin significantly elevated dopamine metabolite concentrations only at a dose of 10 nmol. These data suggest that neurotensin potently mediates the release of dopamine from the mesolimbic pathway via direct actions on the cell body.
Laitinen
K
K
Unit on Behavioral Neuropharmacology, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD 20892.
Crawley
J N
JN
Mefford
I N
IN
De Witte
P
P
D015102:3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D003956:Dialysis; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006719:Homovanillic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008845:Microinjections; D009496:Neurotensin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009714:Nucleus Accumbens / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012016:Reference Values; D012686:Septal Nuclei / Q000378:metabolism*; D012844:Sincalide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013681:Tegmentum Mesencephali / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
D015102:3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid; D009496:Neurotensin; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid; D012844:Sincalide; D004298:Dopamine; D006719:Homovanillic Acid