Abstract
By use of the brain microdialysis technique we show that administration of γ1-melanocyte stimulating hormone (γ1-MSH) into the ventral tegmental area of anaesthetized rats causes an increase in the release of extracellular dopamine and its metabolite 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid in the nucleus accumbens, while γ2-MSH causes the opposite effect. Moreover, γ2-MSH pre-treatment considerably reduced the γ1-MSH-induced effects. Our findings suggest an opposing action of two γ-MSH-activated pathways on the mesolimbic dopaminergic system, which could be important in the maintenance of a balanced psychoactivation state.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 68-71 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | Neuroscience Letters |
Volume | 361 |
Issue number | 1-3 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 6 May 2004 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords*
- 3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic acid
- Dopamine
- Melanocyte stimulating hormone γ
- Microdialysis
- Nucleus accumbens
- Ventral tegmental area
Field of Science*
- 3.2 Clinical medicine
- 3.1 Basic medicine
Publication Type*
- 1.1. Scientific article indexed in Web of Science and/or Scopus database