Responsiveness of extracellular dopamine in the nucleus accumbens to systemic quinpirole and eticlopride is modulated by low-level lead exposure.

Environmental lead exposure has been linked to learning and memory impairments as well as psychosocial deficits in children. Although the precise mechanisms by which lead exerts these effects are not completely understood, experimental animal studies suggest the involvement of mesolimbic dopamine system. Here, we investigated the effects of post weaning, 90-day exposure to 50ppm lead on the responsiveness of extracellular dopamine in the nucleus accumbens core to quinpirole and eticlopride using in vivo microdialysis in anesthetized Long-Evans rats.

Nicotinic cholinergic synaptic mechanisms in the ventral tegmental area contribute to nicotine addiction.

Tobacco use is a major health problem that is estimated to cause 4 million deaths a year worldwide. Nicotine is the main addictive component of tobacco. It acts as an agonist to activate and desensitize nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs).