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Amphetamine Increases Extracellular Concentrations of Glutamate in the Prefrontal Cortex of the Awake Rat: A Microdialysis Study

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Abstract

Using microdialysis, the effect was investigated of intracerebral infusions of different doses of amphetamine (1.25, 2.5, 5, 10, and 20 μg/μl) on the extracellular concentrations of glutamate in the medial prefrontal cortex of the rat. Amphetamine produced a dose-related increase in extracellular concentrations of glutamate. At the highest dose, amphetamine increased extracellular glutamate by 445% of baseline as well as extracellular concentrations of taurine, and reduced extracellular concentrations of glutamine. Amphetamine did not modify other amino acids such as arginine. Increases in extracellular concentrations of glutamate and taurine were independent of calcium in the perfusion medium. This is the first study showing that amphetamine produces a calcium-independent increase in extracellular concentrations of glutamate and taurine in the medial prefrontal cortex of the rat.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departament of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Complutense, Ciudad Universitaria, s/n, 28040, Madrid (, SPAIN)

    Alberto Del Arco, Rodrigo Martínez & Francisco Mora

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  1. Alberto Del Arco
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  2. Rodrigo Martínez
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  3. Francisco Mora
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Del Arco, A., Martínez, R. & Mora, F. Amphetamine Increases Extracellular Concentrations of Glutamate in the Prefrontal Cortex of the Awake Rat: A Microdialysis Study. Neurochem Res 23, 1153–1158 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1020769816332

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