Effect of transient reduction of cerebral blood flow in normotensive rats on striatal dopamine-release

Bilateral Clamping of both Carotid Arteries (BCCA) in normotensive rats is known to cause a transient reduction in cerebral blood flow. Using in vivo trans-striatal microdialysis and HPLC/ECD we measured the release of dopamine and DA-metabolites under these oligemic conditions. BCCA caused a substantial stimulation of striatal DA-release (40-fold) and a decrease of the outflow of DA-metabolites. The elevated DA-release returned to baseline levels before the onset of reperfusion. Upon reperfusion, DA-metabolites rose above their initial baseline values. Trans-striatal administration of glutamate-diethylester (GDEE, 10 mM) attenuated the oligemia-induced DA-release. A sudden reduction of blood flow appears to disrupt the compartmentation of dopamine in striatal dopaminergic nerve endings in a similar but more moderate manner as compared to ischemia.