Functional Importance of Nucleus Accumbens Noradrenaline in the Rat

Abstract

l-Noradrenaline·HCl (l-NA), d-noradrenaline·HCl (d-NA) and dopamine·HCL (DA) were locally applied in the nucleus accumbens of awake rats. When the animals were observed in a dark open field arena it was found that low doses of l-NA or DA produced suppression of ambulatory activity followed by an increase in the activity at higher doses. l-NA was more potent than DA in producing these effects and about 4 times higher doses of DA were required to produce the same effect. d-NA was not without effects but was less efficient than DA.