Nasal administration of leptin dose-dependently increases dopamine and serotonin outflow in the rat nucleus accumbens.

Leptin is an anorexigenic hormone that acts via its receptor (LepR) to regulate the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus circuitry to mediate energy homeostasis and feeding behavior. Moreover, leptin decreases the reward value of natural and artificial rewards, and low levels of circulating leptin have been implicated in several mood disorders linking leptin to the mesolimbic system. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess whether and to what extent an acute intranasal application of leptin is able to modulate monoamine neurotransmitters in the nucleus accumbens (NAc).

Electrical high frequency stimulation modulates GABAergic activity in the nucleus accumbens of freely moving rats.

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the nucleus accumbens (NAc) is an effective treatment option for those affected by obsessive compulsive disorder, who do not respond to pharmacological treatment strategies. Yet, little is known about the mechanism by which DBS achieve its therapeutic effects. Previous studies have shown an increase in GABA levels due to high frequency stimulation (HFS) in the rat caudate putamen.

Transmitter self-regulation by extracellular glutamate in fresh human cortical slices.

Glutamate is thought to be the most important excitatory neurotransmitter in the CNS, while glutamine predominantly serves as a precursor and metabolite in the glutamate-glutamine cycle. To verify the interaction between intrinsic extracellular glutamate, y-aminobutyric acid (GABA) levels and glial glutamine outflow in human tissue, fresh brain slices from human frontal cortex were incubated in superfusion chambers in vitro. Human neocortical tissue was obtained during surgical treatment of subcortical brain tumors.