Characterization of beta-phenylethylamine-induced monoamine release in rat nucleus accumbens: a microdialysis study.
In vivo microdialysis was used to investigate the effect of beta-phenylethylamine on extracellular levels of monoamines and their metabolites in the nucleus accumbens of conscious rats. At all doses tested (1, 10 and 100 microM), infusion of beta-phenylethylamine through the microdialysis probe significantly increased extracellular levels of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens. These increases were dose-related. The increase in dopamine levels induced by 100 microM beta-phenylethylamine was not affected by co-perfusion of 4 microM tetrodotoxin. The ability of 100 microM beta-phenylethylamine to increase the extracellular level of dopamine was comparable to that of the same dose of methamphetamine. On the other hand, beta-phenylethylamine had a much less potent enhancing effect on 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) than dopamine levels. Only the highest dose (100 microM) caused a statistically significant effect on 5-HT levels. Over the dose range tested (1, 10 and 100 microM), beta-phenylethylamine had no effect on extracellular metabolite levels of dopamine and 5-HT. The results suggest that beta-phenylethylamine increases the efflux of monoamines, preferentially dopamine, without affecting monoamine metabolism, in the nucleus accumbens.
Department of Psychology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Japan.
M
M
Nakamura
A
A
Ishii
D
D
Nakahara
D000818:Animals; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D017551:Microdialysis; D009714:Nucleus Accumbens / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D010627:Phenethylamines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D013779:Tetrodotoxin / Q000494:pharmacology
D010627:Phenethylamines; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs; C029261:phenethylamine; D012701:Serotonin; D013779:Tetrodotoxin; D004298:Dopamine