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    J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2011 Apr;337(1):218-25. doi: 10.1124/jpet.110.176271. Epub 2011 Jan 12.

    In vivo effects of amphetamine analogs reveal evidence for serotonergic inhibition of mesolimbic dopamine transmission in the rat.

    Source

    Translational Pharmacology Section, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland 21224, USA.

    Abstract

    Evidence suggests that elevations in extracellular serotonin (5-HT) in the brain can diminish stimulant effects of dopamine (DA). To assess this proposal, we evaluated the pharmacology of amphetamine analogs (m-fluoroamphetamine, p-fluoroamphetamine, m-methylamphetamine, p-methylamphetamine), which display similar in vitro potency as DA releasers (EC(50) = 24-52 nM) but differ in potency as 5-HT releasers (EC(50) = 53-1937 nM). In vivo microdialysis was used to assess the effects of drugs on extracellular DA and 5-HT in rat nucleus accumbens, while simultaneously measuring ambulation (i.e., forward locomotion) and stereotypy (i.e., repetitive movements). Rats received two intravenous injections of drug, 1 mg/kg at time 0 followed by 3 mg/kg 60 min later. All analogs produced dose-related increases in dialysate DA and 5-HT, but the effects on DA did not agree with in vitro predictions. Maximal elevation of dialysate DA ranged from 5- to 14-fold above baseline and varied inversely with 5-HT response, which ranged from 6- to 24-fold above baseline. All analogs increased ambulation and stereotypy, but drugs causing greater 5-HT release (e.g., p-methylamphetamine) were associated with significantly less forward locomotion. The magnitude of ambulation was positively correlated with extracellular DA (p < 0.001) and less so with the ratio of DA release to 5-HT release (i.e., percentage DA increase divided by percentage 5-HT increase) (p < 0.029). Collectively, our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that 5-HT release dampens stimulant effects of amphetamine-type drugs, but further studies are required to address the precise mechanisms underlying this phenomenon.

    PMID:
    21228061
    [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
    PMCID:
    PMC3063744
    Free PMC Article

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