title: Selective enhancement of dopamine utilization in the rat prefrontal cortex by food deprivation.
abstract: Previous studies have indicated that food deprivation exerts various effects on brain neurotransmitters and that mild stress causes a selective enhancement of dopamine activity in the rat medial prefrontal cortex. In the present study it was found that in rats 24 h of food deprivation produced an increase in levels of the dopamine metabolite 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid in the medial prefrontal cortex but not in the nucleus accumbens or caudate-putamen. This selective increase in mesocortical dopamine activity is comparable to that found with mild footshock stress exposure and indicates that food deprivation may function as a stressor.
mesh_terms: D015102:3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005508:Food Deprivation / Q000502:physiology*; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015102:3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid; D004298:Dopamine