Ventral tegmental injection of nicotine induces locomotor activity and L-DOPA release from nucleus accumbens.
Effects of nicotine systemically or locally on locomotor activity and L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) release were studied using microdialysis in the nucleus accumbens of freely moving rats. The basal L-DOPA release was Ca2(+)-dependent and tetrodotoxin-sensitive. Systemic nicotine (1 mg/kg s.c.) increased locomotor activity and L-DOPA release preferentially in the nucleus accumbens as compared with the striatum. Injection of nicotine (30 micrograms) into the ventral tegmental area increased locomotor activity and L-DOPA release from the nucleus accumbens. These increases were antagonized by prior injection of mecamylamine into the ventral tegmental area. Nicotine induces locomotor activity and L-DOPA release from the nucleus accumbens via nicotinic receptors in the ventral tegmental area. The release may be relevant to behavioral actions of nicotine.
Goshima
Y
Y
Department of Pharmacology, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, Japan.
Miyamae
T
T
Nakamura
S
S
Miki
K
K
Kosaka
K
K
Misu
Y
Y
D000818:Animals; D007980:Levodopa / Q000378:metabolism*; D008124:Locomotion / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008464:Mecamylamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D009538:Nicotine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009714:Nucleus Accumbens / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017557:Ventral Tegmental Area / Q000187:drug effects*
D007980:Levodopa; D008464:Mecamylamine; D009538:Nicotine