Abstract
The effect of IV and IP muscimol on the concentrations of dopamine (DA) and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) in both the nigrostriata) and mesolimbic dopaminergic pathways has been studied. IV muscimol (2 mg/kg), produced significant decreases in the concentration of DA in both DA systems, while the concentration of DOPAC remained unaltered. However, IP muscimol (5 and 10 mg/kg) caused significant increases in the concentrations of DA or DOPAC in all brain regions examined. Our results suggest differential actions of muscimol on DA metabolism dependent upon the route of administration.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Andén NE, Grabowska-Andén M, Wachtel H (1979) Effects of the GABA receptor agonist muscimol on the turnover of brain dopamine and on motor activity of rats. Acta Pharmacol Toxicol (Copenh) 44:191–196
Baraldi M, Grandison L, Guidotti A (1979) Distribution and metabolism of muscimol in the brain and other tissues of the rat. Neuropharmacology 18:57–62
Beart PM, Gundlach AL (1980) 3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAG) and the rat mesolimbic dopaminergic pathway: Drug effects and evidence for somatodendritic mechanisms. Br J Pharmacolo 69:241–247
Beart PM, Prosser D, Louis WJ (1979) Adrenaline and phenylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase in rat medullary and anterior hypothalamic-preoptic nuclei. J Neurochem 33:947–950
Biggio G, Casu M, Corda MG, Vernaleone G, Gessa GL (1977) Effect of muscimol, a GABA-mimetic agent, on dopamine metabolism in the mouse brain. Life Sci 21:525–532
Fuxe K, Hökfelt, T, Ljundahl Å, Agnati L, Johansson O, Perez de la Mora M (1975) Evidence for an inhibitory GABAergic control of the mesolimbic dopamine neurones: Possibility of improving treatment of schizophrenia by combined treatment with neuroleptics and GABAergic drugs. Med Biol 53:177–183
Gundlach AL, Beart PM (1980) Effect of muscimol on dopamine metabolism of the rat hypothalamus. Experientia 36:1312–1313
Johnston GAR, Curtis DR, DeGroat WC, Duggan AW (1968) Central actions of ibotenic acid and muscimol. Biochem Pharmacol 17:2488–2489
Krogsgaard-Larsen P, Johnston GAR, Curtis DR, Game CJA, McCulloch RM (1975) Structure and biological activity of a series of conformationally restricted analogues of GABA. J Neurochem 25:803–809
Martin GE, Haubrich DR (1975) Striatal dopamine release and contraversive rotation elicited by intranigrally applied muscimol. Nature 275:230–231
Moore KE, Wuerthele SM (1979) Regulation of nigrostriatal and tuberoinfundibular-hypophyseal dopaminergic neurons. Prog Neurobiol 13:325–359
Naik SR, Guidotti A, Costa E (1976) Central GABA receptor agonists: Comparison of muscimol and baclofen. Neuropharmacology 15:479–484
Restelli A, Zambotti F, Vincentini L, Zonta N, Mantegazza P (1979) Modifications of DOPAC levels in the striatum and olfactory tuburcles of the rat after muscimol. Pharmacol Res Commun 11:55–59
Roth RH, Murrin C, Walters JR (1976) Central dopaminergic neurones: Effects of alterations in impulse flow on the accumulation of dihydroxyphenylacetic acid. Eur J. Pharmacol 36:163–171
Scheel-Krüger J, Arnt J, Magelund G (1977) Behavioural stimulation induced by muscimol and other GABA agonists injected into the substantia nigra. Neurosci Lett 4:351–356
Snodgrass SR (1978) Use of 3H-muscimol, for GABA receptor studies. Nature 273:392–394
Waszczak BL, Eng N, Walters JR (1980) Effects of muscimol and picrotoxin on single unit activity of substantia nigra neurones. Brain Res 188:185–197
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Gundlach, A.L., Beart, P.M. Differential effects of IV and IP muscimol on central dopamine metabolism. Psychopharmacology 74, 71–73 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00431760
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00431760