Intra-accumbens implants of embryonic dopaminergic neurons reverse the behavioral supersensitivity to opiates evoked by lesion of the mesolimbic dopaminergic pathway.
The ascending mesotelencephalic dopaminergic systems of rat pups of 3 days of age were bilaterally lesioned using 6-hydroxydopamine injected at the level of the lateral hypothalamus. A sub-group of lesioned pups received, 5 days after the lesion, a dopamine neuron-rich cell suspension graft implanted bilaterally into the striatum and nucleus accumbens. Behavioral tests were conducted 6 months later. The lesion induced an increase in the locomotor activation induced by D-Ala2-Met5-enkephalinamide injected into the nucleus accumbens (2.5 micrograms/side) as compared to the activation observed in control animals. Locomotor activation by systemic apomorphine (0.1 mg/kg s.c.) was also increased while that induced by amphetamine (1.5 mg/kg i.p.) was abolished. The presence of DA neuron implants reversed each of these post-lesion modifications.
Abrous
D N
DN
INSERM U-259, Bordeaux, France.
Stinus
L
L
Le Moal
M
M
Herman
J P
JP
D000661:Amphetamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000502:physiology; D001058:Apomorphine / Q000494:pharmacology; D016380:Brain Tissue Transplantation / Q000502:physiology*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000502:physiology*; D004744:Enkephalin, Methionine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D016332:Fetal Tissue Transplantation / Q000502:physiology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008032:Limbic System / Q000502:physiology; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009294:Narcotics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000637:transplantation; D009714:Nucleus Accumbens / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013237:Stereoisomerism
D009294:Narcotics; D004744:Enkephalin, Methionine; C022118:enkephalinamide-Met, Ala(2)-; D000661:Amphetamine; D001058:Apomorphine; D004298:Dopamine