Changes in striatal da metabolism induced by cholinergic and anti-cholinergic nigral stimulation in the rat

Abstract

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the changes in striatal dopamine (DA) metabolism induced by cholinergic and anti-cholinergic nigral stimulation in the rat. Experiments were performed on male Charles Rivers rats positioned in a stereotaxic apparatus, and anesthetized with a mixture of halothane, oxygen and nitrousoxide. The rate of DA disappearance after inhibition of the amine synthesis with RO 4-4602 was used as an index of the rate of striatal utilization. Such a treatment induces a decrease in striatal DA levels within 30 min when compared to untreated rats. It is found that when carbachol was applied in the SN 15 min after the injection of RO 4-4602, striatal DA levels in the treated side were 15% higher than those of the sham operated side. In contrast after atropine treatment DA disappearance was enhanced, because DA levels in the ipsilateral side were significantly lower than those of the contralateral NCP. These effects observed in a short-time interval suggest that DA utilization in the NCP was counteracted by carbachol and stimulated by the atropine nigral infusion.