The acute effects of amphetamine derivatives on extracellular serotonin and dopamine levels in rat nucleus accumbens.
The acute effects of amphetamine derivatives on extracellular concentration of serotonin (5-HT) and dopamine in the nucleus accumbens were studied with in vivo microdialysis using conscious, freely moving rats. 5-HT, dopamine, and their major metabolites were measured by HPLC with electrochemical detection. Amphetamine (1.0-9.0 mg/kg) elevated dopamine levels considerably, but failed to affect the levels of 5-HT, except at the highest dose administered. 3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA, 1.0-9.0 mg/kg) and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, 1.0-9.0 mg/kg) elevated both 5-HT and dopamine levels dose dependently. The failure of 2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylamphetamine (DOM, 0.5-1.0 mg/kg) to affect the 5-HT levels suggests that extracellular levels of 5-HT play a minor role in hallucinogenic activity. The strong effects of MDA and MDMA on levels of 5-HT indicate that their actions on serotonergic mechanisms are different from those of the hallucinogens. In addition, methylenedioxyamphetamines may act via dopaminergic mechanisms similar to those of amphetamine.
Kankaanpää
A
A
National Public Health Institute, Department of Mental Health and Alcohol Research, Laboratory of Substance Abuse, Helsinki, Finland.
Meririnne
E
E
Lillsunde
P
P
Seppälä
T
T
D015102:3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D000662:Amphetamines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D005110:Extracellular Space / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D006719:Homovanillic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D017551:Microdialysis; D009714:Nucleus Accumbens / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*
D000662:Amphetamines; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D015102:3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid; D012701:Serotonin; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid; D004298:Dopamine; D006719:Homovanillic Acid