No mediolateral differences in striatal autoreceptor-mediated modulation of dopamine release: in vivo voltammetric...

Medial and lateral neostriatum differ qualitatively in their sources of dopamine (DA) innervation and in their behavioural functions. The present study sought to ascertain whether these differences were reflected in their response to DA autoreceptor drugs. Fast cyclic voltammetry was used to measure stimulated DA release at medial and lateral carbon fibre microelectrodes. Metoclopramide and (+)-3-PPP were used as autoreceptor antagonist and agonist respectively. No differences were observed in the level of DA release evoked by stimulation or in the agonist and antagonist responses at medial or lateral sites. We therefore conclude that differences between medial and lateral striatal DA function are not evident at the autoreceptor level.