The in vitro release of endogenous m-tyramine, p-tyramine and dopamine from rat striatum

Administration of phenelzine (100 mg/kg. i.p., 18 hr) increased rat striatal concentrations of pTA, mTA and DA by 30, 6.7 and 1.5 fold, respectively. Lesions of the medial forebrain bundle prevented these increases, permitting the conclusion that the phenelzine-induced amine increases were localized in the synaptic terminals. The release of endogenous pTA, mTA and DA from striatal slices obtained from phenelzine-treated rats was investigated, 50 mM KC1l elicited releases of pTA, mTA and DA which were significantly greater than their respective basal releases. These K+-stimulated releases were antagonized significantly by 15 mM MgCl2, suggesting that they are calcium-dependent in nature. We have concluded, therefore, that mTA and pTA, as well as DA, are released from striatal nerve terminals in vivo. The total amounts of mTA and DA, but not pTA, released in the release experiments were greater than those found in the nonincubated tissue. It appears, therefore, that the biosynthesis of mTA and DA was stimulated during the incubation of the striatal slices.