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Effects of chronic electroconvulsive shock on interstitial concentrations of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens

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Abstract

There is accumulating evidence that chronic electroconvulsive shock (ECS) can increase the functional output of central dopaminergic systems. The present experiments investigated the effects of acute and chronic ECS on interstitial concentrations of dopamine (DA) in the nucleus accumbens (NAC) using in vivo microdialysis in awake freely moving rats. ECS (150 V, 0.75 s) increased interstitial concentrations of DA, DOPAC and HVA to approximately 130% of baseline values. The magnitude of the ECS-induced increase in DA was not affected by chronic ECS. In contrast, the response of the DA metabolites was attenuated in the chronic ECS group. Chronic ECS did not influence apomorphine (25 µg/kg, SC)-induced decreases in extracellular concentrations of DA or its metabolites in the NAC, thus providing no support for the hypothesis that chronic ECS produces subsensitivity of DA autoreceptors.d-Amphetamine (1.5 mg/kg SC)-induced increases in extracellular DA were significantly prolonged in the NAC of the chronic ECS group. In accordance with previous reports, the locomotor stimulant effects ofd-amphetamine were also enhanced in the chronic ECS group. These data provide further evidence that chronic ECS can increase certain behavioral and neurochemical indices of meso-accumbens DA function.

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Abbreviations

DA:

dopamine

NAC:

nucleus accumbens

DOPAC:

3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid

HVA:

homovanillic acid

5-HIAA:

5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid

ECS:

electroconvulsive shock

ECT:

electroconvulsive therapy

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  1. Geert Damsma

    Present address: Hoffman La Roche, CNS Research, Basel, Switzerland

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Neurological Sciences, Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, V6T 1W5, Vancouver, BC, Canada

    George G. Nomikos, Athanasios P. Zis, Geert Damsma & Hans C. Fibiger

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  1. George G. Nomikos
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  2. Athanasios P. Zis
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  3. Geert Damsma
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  4. Hans C. Fibiger
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Nomikos, G.G., Zis, A.P., Damsma, G. et al. Effects of chronic electroconvulsive shock on interstitial concentrations of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens. Psychopharmacology 105, 230–238 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02244315

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02244315

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