Effects of acute and chronic administration of high-dose corticosterone and dexamethasone on regional brain dopamine and serotonin metabolism in rats.
1. The effects of acute and chronic treatment with high-dose corticosterone (50 mg/kg) and dexamethasone (0.7 mg/kg) on monoamines and their metabolites levels in four regions of the rat brain were investigated. 2. Acute corticosterone and dexamethasone treatment decreased serotonin (5-HT) levels, but did not alter dopamine (DA),3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), homovanillic acid (HVA) or 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) levels in any of the brain regions. 3. Chronic corticosterone treatment significantly increased the HVA and 5-HIAA levels only in the medial prefrontal cortex, while chronic dexamethasone treatment did not alter. Chronic corticosterone and dexamethasone treatment did not change DA, DOPAC or 5-HT levels in any of the brain regions. 4. These findings suggest that chronic treatment with high-dose corticosterone activates the dopaminergic and serotonergic neurotransmission in the medial prefrontal cortex.
Inoue
T
T
Department of Psychiatry, Hokkaido University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan.
Koyama
T
T
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects*; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors
D012701:Serotonin; D003907:Dexamethasone; D004298:Dopamine; D003345:Corticosterone