Microinjection of apomorphine into the prefrontal cortex of the rat reduces dopamine metabolite concentrations in microdialysate from the caudate nucleus

Abstract

The effects of dopamine fDA) depletion within the medical prefrontal cortex (MPFC) suggest that mesocortical DA projections influence subcortical DA systems (Pycock et al 1980). This hypothesis has been weakened by negative reports (Joyce et al 1983) and by problems inherent to lesion studies. In vivo neurochemical techniques offer a more direct approach. In vivo voltammetry studies have shown that enhancement of DA release in the MPFC is followed by a reduction in DA turnover in the nucleus accumbens (Louilot et al 1989)o Using intracerebral microdialysis we have tested the analogous hypothesis, that stimulation of MPFC DA