In vivo electrochemical determination of extracellular dopamine in the caudate of freely-moving rats after a low dose of ethanol.
Low doses of ethanol (i.e. less than 1 g/kg) elicit behavioral stimulation, control discriminative performance and mediate reinforcement in rats. These effects are thought to be mediated through central dopaminergic neuronal systems. In the present study, dopamine and serotonin/uric acid release from caudate was measured by in vivo voltammetry in freely-moving, unanesthetized rats after administration of a low dose of ethanol (600 mg/kg, IP). Within 15 min after a single ethanol administration, extracellular dopamine levels significantly increased in caudate, peaking at 35 min, and returning to baseline by 75 min. In addition, ethanol caused an attenuation of a second voltammetric signal that correlates with extracellular serotonin/uric acid concentrations, and this effect persisted through the course of the experiments. These neurochemical changes may underlie behavioral responses found after low doses of ethanol.
Department of Pharmacology, University of Rochester Medical Center, New York 14642.
S A
SA
Signs
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BK
Yamamoto
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Schechter
D000818:Animals; D002421:Caudate Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D004563:Electrochemistry; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000378:metabolism
D014527:Uric Acid; D012701:Serotonin; D000431:Ethanol; D004298:Dopamine