title: Role of glucocorticoids in the regulation of dopaminergic neurotransmission.
abstract: Several lines of evidence indicate that exposure to various types of stressors, or stress hormones may increase or induce sensitization to psychostimulants or enhance susceptibility of experimental animals to the effects of abusing substances. In order to find out what is a biological substrate of the above phenomenon, we investigate the impact of stress hormones on the dopaminergic neurotransmission. It is postulated, first, that corticosterone, an important stress hormone, regulates the dopaminergic neurotransmission at the level of dopamine D-1 receptors. Secondly, corticosterone may enhance the dopaminergic tone by the alterations in the synthesis of tyrosine hydroxylase, however, it is also conceivable that, alternatively, corticosterone may evoke translocation of that enzyme from the cell bodies of dopaminergic neurons to their terminals. Finally, arguments that dopamine D-1 receptors might regulate the release of corticosterone by activation of neurons in the paraventricular nucleus of hypothalamus are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmacology and Brain Biostructure, Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Smetna 12, PL 31-343 Cracow, Poland.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Czyrak
authors.forename: Marzena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maćkowiak
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chocyk
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fijał
authors.forename: Krzystof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wedzony
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004298:Dopamine / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000502:physiology*; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000502:physiology*; D017447:Receptors, Dopamine D1 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D017447:Receptors, Dopamine D1; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2; D004298:Dopamine