Delayed inhibition of dopamine synthesis by γ-butyrolactone and baclofen: Dopamine autoreceptor supersensitivity?

Abstract

The administration of γ-butyrolactone (GBL) (750 mg·kg −1 i.p.) and baclofen (20 mg·kg −1 i.p.) to rats caused a transient increase followed by a long-lasting decrease in striatal dopamine (DA) synthesis, as measured by DOPA accumulation after decarboxylase inhibition. DA synthesis was reduced to 40–50% of the control value for 2–12 h following either treatment. The GBL- and baclofen-induced inhibition of DA synthesis was reversed by haloperidol (2–5 mg·kg −1 i.p.) and by a second dose of baclofen or GBL. The subcutaneous dose of 15 mg·kg −1 of apomorphine, insufficient to decrease DA synthesis in control rats, produced a further decrease in DA synthesis in animals pretreated with baclofen. These results suggest that the delayed DA synthesis inhibition following GBL or baclofen treatment was due to stimulation of supersensitive DA autoreceptors.