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α2 and β-adrenoceptor agonists modulate [3H]dopamine release from rat nucleus accumbens slices: Implications for research into depression

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Abstract

The modulatory effects of noradrenergic agonists on the 25 mM K+-induced release of [3H]dopamine (3H-DA) from rat brain nucleus accumbens slices was investigated, using a superfusion technique. The K+-induced release of3H-DA was Ca2+ dependent, significantly enhanced (25–32%;p<0.02) by the β-adrenoceptor agonist isoproterenol (10 μM), and significantly decreased (13–25%;p<0.05) by the α2-adrenoceptor agonist clonidine (10 μM). At these concentrations neither drug affected basal release of3H-DA. Clonidine (100 μM) increased the basal release of3H-DA, while decreasing the K+-induced release by 19% (p<0.01). The inclusion of desipramine in the incubation medium, to prevent accumulation of3H-DA into noradrenergic neurons, did not alter the inhibitory effect of clonidine (10 μM) on3H-DA release. This study provides direct evidence that noradrenergic neurons can modulate dopaminergic neurotransmission in the mesolimbic system.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. MRC Research Unit for the Neurochemistry of Mental Diseases Department of Chemical Pathology, Tygerberg Hospital, 7505, Tygerberg, Republic of South Africa

    B. Nurse, V. A. Russell & J. J. F. Taljaard

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  1. B. Nurse
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  2. V. A. Russell
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  3. J. J. F. Taljaard
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Nurse, B., Russell, V.A. & Taljaard, J.J.F. α2 and β-adrenoceptor agonists modulate [3H]dopamine release from rat nucleus accumbens slices: Implications for research into depression. Neurochem Res 9, 1231–1238 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00973036

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