Dopamine in the rat ventral pallidum/substantia innominata: biochemical and electrophysiological studies.
Recent anatomical literature suggests that dopaminergic projections ascending from the midbrain terminate within the ventral pallidum/substantia innominata (VP/SI). The present investigation evaluated this possibility using standard biochemical and electrophysiologic approaches. Biochemical studies revealed that dopamine and its major metabolites are present within the rat VP/SI. Concentrations of these compounds were diminished greatly when dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra were destroyed. Electrophysiologic studies demonstrated that VP/SI neurons often respond to local applications of dopamine with a decrease in firing rate. These observations support the contention that dopamine regulates neuronal activity within the VP/SI and that cells of origin for at least a portion of this projection lie within the substantia nigra.
Napier
T C
TC
Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Loyola University of Chicago, Maywood, IL 60153.
Potter
P E
PE
D015102:3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001479:Basal Ganglia / Q000378:metabolism*; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D004298:Dopamine / Q000502:physiology*; D004594:Electrophysiology; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism; D013377:Substantia Innominata / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology
D015102:3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid; D012701:Serotonin; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid; D004298:Dopamine