In:
Journal of Psychopharmacology, SAGE Publications, Vol. 10, No. 4 ( 1996-07), p. 266-272
Abstract:
The neurosteroid allopregnanolone is a potent and efficacious modulator of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) type A receptors. The effects of intracerebroventricular injection of allopregnanolone (5 to 15 μg in 5 μl) on basal and stress-induced changes in the extracellular concentrations of dopamine were investigated by microdialysis in various brain areas of freely moving rats and compared with those of the benzodiazepine midazolam (1 to 10 μg in 5 μl). Allopregnanolone reduced (by a maximum of 65 to 75%) basal dopamine content in the prefrontal cortex and nucleus accumbens in a dose-dependent manner, but had no effect on dopamine output in the striatum. Allopregnanolone (10 to 15 μg) also completely prevented the increase in extracellular dopamine concentrations in the nucleus accumbens and cerebral cortex induced by foot-shock stress. Midazolam reduced basal dopamine content in all three brain regions studied as well as the stress- induced increase in dopamine content in the nucleus accumbens and cerebral cortex with a greater potency than allopregnanolone. These results suggest that endogenous neurosteroids may participate in the GABAergic modulation of dopaminergic transmission in the rat cerebral cortex and nucleus accumbens, two brain areas which are important in the regulation of emotional processes. These agents do not appear to affect striatal dopaminergic transmission which modulates motor function.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
0269-8811
,
1461-7285
DOI:
10.1177/026988119601000402
Language:
English
Publisher:
SAGE Publications
Publication Date:
1996
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2028926-1
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