Uptake of dopamine by cultured monkey amniotic epithelial cells

In this study, the ability of monkey amniotic epithelial (MAE) cells to take up dopamine was tested by incubating the cells in buffer containing unlabeled dopamine under different experimental conditions followed by assaying dopamine content using high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. Results showed the capability of MAE cells to take up dopamine in a time- and concentration-dependent fashion, and also this uptake is sodium-dependent. Further, selective dopamine transporter blockers inhibited dopamine uptake with rank order of potency that is consistent with the pharmacology of the dopamine transporter. These results suggest that MAE cells may be potential model to study dopamine uptake and release, and to explore new drugs affecting these processes.