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Assessment of Dopaminergic Homeostasis in Mice by Use of High-performance Liquid Chromatography Analysis and Synaptosomal Dopamine Uptake
Published on: September 21, 2017
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Amphetamine potency varies with dopamine uptake rate across striatal subregions
Cody A Siciliano1, Erin S Calipari, Sara R Jones
1Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA.
Journal of Neurochemistry
|July 4, 2014
Summary
Amphetamine potency in the brain
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
- Neurochemistry
Background:
- Amphetamine is a potent central nervous system psychostimulant with high abuse potential.
- Dopamine transporter (DAT) levels influence psychostimulant efficacy.
- Striatal DAT expression exhibits a dorsal-to-ventral gradient.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if regional differences in striatal DAT levels influence amphetamine's potency within individuals.
- To determine if amphetamine's effects on dopamine release follow the DAT expression gradient.
Main Methods:
- Fast scan cyclic voltammetry in mouse brain slices.
- Assessment of DAT inhibition and dopamine release by amphetamine.
- Analysis across four distinct striatal regions: dorsal and ventral caudate-putamen, nucleus accumbens core and shell.
Main Results:
- Amphetamine's effects on DAT and dopamine release decreased progressively from dorsal to ventral striatal regions.
- Both measures of amphetamine potency correlated significantly with regional dopamine uptake rates.
- Findings support the hypothesis that amphetamine potency is influenced by regional DAT levels.
Conclusions:
- Striatal subregions exhibit differential sensitivity to amphetamine, correlating with DAT expression levels.
- Understanding these regional differences is crucial for comprehending amphetamine's role in motivated behaviors and drug abuse.
- This study highlights the importance of considering neuroanatomical variations in psychostimulant drug effects.
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