The effects of pH on amphetamine-induced dopamine release as measured by in vivo dialysis

The release of endogenous dopamine (DA) from the rat corpus striatum before and after the administration of d-amphetamine sulphate (AMPH) was monitored by in vivo dialysis to compare the effects of perfusion media at pH 6.0 and at pH 7.4. Basal release of DA did not differ significantly at pH 6.0 (61.25 +/- 5.34 pg/sample, n = 4) or pH 7.4 (58.02 +/- 14.17 pg/sample, n = 4). The basal value of homovanillic acid (HVA) was not significantly reduced at pH 7.4 as compared with pH 6.0; while there was a significant reduction in 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) at pH 7.4 as compared to pH 6.0. Intraperitoneal injection of 2.5 mg/kg AMPH resulted in a 21 fold increase in the concentration of DA appearing in subsequent dialysis samples. This increase in DA release was not significantly affected by the pH. Equally the decrease in DOPAC and HVA content following AMPH were also not altered by the pH. These present results differ from experiments using push-pull cannulae and suggest that responses observed with the two techniques may not be equivalent.