title: Low level lead exposure decreases in vivo release of dopamine in the rat nucleus accumbens: a microdialysis study.
abstract: The basal and K(+)-induced release of dopamine and its metabolites, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid and homovanillic acid, were measured in microdialysate samples obtained in vivo from the nucleus accumbens region of rat subchronically exposed to 50 ppm lead for 90 days. The basal and stimulus-induced release of dopamine and the metabolites were significantly reduced in the lead-exposed rats as compared with the controls. These reductions in dopamine and its metabolites are consistent with the reports of decreased dopamine availability associated with lead-induced changes in certain behavioral indices (fixed-interval performance) in rats. Furthermore, these changes were observed at blood lead levels similar to those considered to cause impairment in cognitive functions in children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Texas Southern University, Houston 77004, USA.
authors.forename: S V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Kala
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Jadhav
mesh_terms: D015102:3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D006719:Homovanillic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D017551:Microdialysis; D009714:Nucleus Accumbens / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
chemical_list: D015102:3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid; D007854:Lead; D004298:Dopamine; D006719:Homovanillic Acid