MESOCORTICAL DOPAMINE NEURONS - RAPID TRANSMITTER TURNOVER COMPARED TO OTHER BRAIN CATECHOLAMINE SYSTEMS

Abstract

The decline of dopamine and norepinephrine after i.v. D,L-.alpha.-methyltyrosine methyl ester hydrochloride was used to determine the rate constants for catecholamine turnover in the [Sprague-Dawley] rat prefrontal cortex, olfactory tubercle and striatum. Dopamine turnover varied more between brain regions and was generally faster than the corresponding norepinephrine turnover. Prefrontal cortical dopamine was unaffected by dorsal noradrenergic bundle lesions. The turnover of prefrontal cortical dopamine was 2-4 .times. faster than dopamine turnover in the olfactory tubercle and striatum.