Sexual activity increases dopamine transmission in the nucleus accumbens and striatum of female rats.

In vivo microdialysis was used to monitor extracellular concentrations of dopamine (DA), and its metabolites dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and homovanillic acid (HVA) in the nucleus accumbens and dorsal striatum of sexually active female rats during tests of locomotor activity, exposure to a novel chamber, exposure to sex odors, the presentation of a sexually active male rat, and copulation. DA increased slightly but significantly in the nucleus accumbens when a sexually active male was placed behind a wire-mesh screen, and further during copulation. DA also increased significantly in the dorsal striatum during copulation; however, the magnitude of this effect was significantly lower than that observed in the nucleus accumbens.

Dopamine transmission increases in the nucleus accumbens of male rats during their first exposure to sexually receptive female rats.

In vivo microdialysis was used to monitor extracellular concentrations of dopamine (DA), and its metabolites dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and homovanillic acid (HVA), in the nucleus accumbens of sexually naive male rats during their first exposure to sexually receptive or nonreceptive females. DA, DOPAC, and HVA increased progressively and significantly in males that copulated to ejaculation with receptive females. In contrast, DA, DOPAC, and HVA did not increase significantly in males exposed to non-receptive females, despite several attempts by these males to mount the non-receptive females.

Effects of chronic bupropion on interstitial concentrations of dopamine in rat nucleus accumbens and striatum.

Bupropion is a novel atypical antidepressant that inhibits dopamine (DA) uptake. The present experiments investigated the effects of acute (10 mg/kg, twice daily for 2 days) and chronic (10 mg/kg, twice daily for 21 days) bupropion treatment on interstitial DA concentrations using simultaneous in vivo microdialysis in the nucleus accumbens (NAC) and striatum of awake freely moving rats. Compared to animals that had not previously been exposed to the drug, bupropion (25 mg/kg, IP) induced increases in extracellular DA were significantly enhanced in the NAC of the chronic but not the acute bupropion group.

Sexual behavior increases dopamine transmission in the nucleus accumbens and striatum of male rats: comparison with novelty and locomotion.

Extracellular concentrations of dopamine (DA) and its metabolites dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and homovanillic acid (HVA) were examined concurrently, using in vivo microdialysis, in the nucleus accumbens and dorsal striatum of sexually active male rats during tests of locomotor activity, exposure to a novel chamber, exposure to sex odors, the presentation of a sexually receptive female, and copulation. DA increased significantly in the nucleus accumbens when the males were presented with a sexually receptive female behind a screen and increased further during copulation. Although DA also increased significantly in the dorsal striatum during copulation, the magnitude of the effect was significantly lower than that observed in the nucleus accumbens.

Chronic desipramine enhances amphetamine-induced increases in interstitial concentrations of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens.

There is accumulating evidence that some antidepressant treatments can increase the functional output of the meso-accumbens dopaminergic system. For example, chronic administration of tricyclic antidepressant drugs such as imipramine and desipramine (DMI) enhances the locomotor stimulant effects of d-amphetamine. Subsensitivity of inhibitory dopamine (DA) autoreceptors and supersensitivity of postsynaptic DA receptor mechanisms are among the mechanisms that have been suggested to underlie these observations.