Brain dopamine response in isolated 10-day-old rats: assessment using D2 binding and dopamine turnover

A single 5-min isolation from the nest, dam, and siblings in 10-day-old rat pups was investigated for its effect on brain dopamine systems. The release of dopamine in innervated brain regions was measured in separate studies using in vivo ligand binding of 3H-raclopride, ex vivo binding using 3H-raclopride, and neurochemical measurement of the dopamine turnover using levels of DOPAC and dopamine. In addition, in vitro homogenate binding was performed to determine baseline Bmax and Kd values for 3H-raclopride binding sites across treatments. Isolation for 5 min in a "novel" environment resulted in decreased 3H-raclopride binding in striatum and septum as determined by both in vivo and ex vivo binding, as well as increased dopamine turnover. There was no difference in Bmax and Kd values for 3H-raclopride in these brain regions after the 5-min isolation, indicating that the binding decreases were due to an increase of available dopamine, presumably from terminal release. The convergence of results from three different techniques supports the interpretation that dopamine is released during the 5-min isolation in both brain regions.