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Updated: Jul 19, 2026
Single Cell Measurement of Dopamine Release with Simultaneous Voltage-clamp and Amperometry
Published on: November 21, 2012
Adderall produces increased striatal dopamine release and a prolonged time course compared to amphetamine isomers
B Matthew Joyce1, Paul E A Glaser, Greg A Gerhardt
1Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Center for Sensor Technology, The Morris K. Udall Parkinson's Disease Research Center of Excellence, University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center, Lexington, KY, 40536-0098, USA.
Rationale:
Adderall is currently used for the treatment of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and is composed of a novel mixture of approximately 24% L-amphetamine and 76% D-amphetamine salts. There are, however, no investigations of the pharmacological effects of this combination in vivo.
Objectives:
The technique of high-speed chronoamperometry using Nafion-coated single carbon-fiber microelectrodes was used to study amphetamine-evoked dopamine (DA) release produced by Adderall, D-amphetamine, or D,L-amphetamine in the striatum of anesthetized male Fischer 344 (F344) rats. The amphetamine solutions were locally applied from micropipettes by pressure ejection.
Results:
Local applications of Adderall resulted in significantly greater DA release signal amplitudes with prolonged time course of dopamine release and re-uptake as compared to D-amphetamine and D,L-amphetamine.
Conclusions:
These data support the hypothesis that the combination of amphetamine enantiomers and salts in Adderall has effects on DA release, which result in increased and prolonged DA release, compared to D- and D,L-amphetamine.
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