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Effect of ethanol on [3H]Dopamine release in rat nucleus accumbens and striatal slices

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Abstract

Ethanol (10–200 mM) transiently increased tritium overflow from superfused rat nucleus accumbens slices previously incubated with [3H]dopamine (DA) and [14C]choline. The effect was greater in striatal tissue and did not appear to be a non-specific membrane effect since [14C]acetylcholine (ACh) release was not affected. Lack of antagonism by picrotoxin suggested that γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors were not involved. Calcium was not a requirement and the DA uptake blocker, nomifensine, was without effect. Ethanol appeared to be causing [3H]DA release into the cytoplasm. K+-stimulated release of [3H]DA and [14C]ACh from nucleus accumbens and striatal slices was not affected. Clonidine-mediated inhibition of the K+-evoked release of [3H]DA remained unaltered. Ethanol attenuated the isoproterenol-induced enhancement of [3H]DA release. Ethanol therefore appeared to interact with components of the DA terminal causing a transient increase in the release of neurotransmitter without impairing K+-evoked release but apparently interfering with the isoproterenol-induced effect.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. MRC Research Unit for the Neurochemistry of Mental Diseases, Department of Chemical Pathology, University of Stellenbosch, Tygerberg Hospital, P O Box 113, 7505, Tygerberg, Republic of South Africa

    V. A. Russell, M. C. L. Lamm & J. J. F. Taljaard

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  1. V. A. Russell
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  2. M. C. L. Lamm
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  3. J. J. F. Taljaard
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Russell, V.A., Lamm, M.C.L. & Taljaard, J.J.F. Effect of ethanol on [3H]Dopamine release in rat nucleus accumbens and striatal slices. Neurochem Res 13, 487–492 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01268885

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