Reversal effect of sulpiride on rotational behaviour of rats with unilateral frontal cortex ablation: an alternative explanation for the pharmacological mechanism of its antidepressant effect.

The antidepressant effect of sulpiride has been generally explained as the result of its preferential blocking effect on self-inhibitory presynaptic dopamine autoreceptors at low doses. Low dose haloperidol has the same blocking effect. In rats with unilateral ablation of the frontal cortex, methamphetamine administration induced mild contralateral rotation 10 days after the operation.

The effect of repeated administration of methamphetamine on dopamine uptake sites in rat striatum.

In this experiment, rats were injected intraperitoneally with 6 mg/kg methamphetamine (MAP) hydrochloride or the same volume of saline once daily for 14 days. Rats were decapitated after a 1-day, 4-day or 10-day withdrawal period. The number and affinity of [3H]mazindol binding sites in the striatum were measured.

Modulation of [3H]mazindol binding sites in rat striatum by dopaminergic agents.

This study was undertaken to examine whether repeated alteration of dopamine turnover influences the function of dopamine uptake sites. In the first experiment, rats were repeatedly injected intraperitoneally with L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA), alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine or 1-[2-bis(4-fluorophenyl)methoxy]ethyl]-4-(3- phenylpropyl)piperazine (GBR 12909) once daily for 14 days. An increase in the number of [3H]mazindol binding sites in the striatum was seen with L-DOPA and GBR 12909.

Blockade of behavioral sensitization to methamphetamine by lesion of hippocampo-accumbal pathway.

The present studies were carried out to explore a role of the hippocampal efferents in the development of the locomotor augmentation induced by repeated methamphetamine administrations. For this purpose, electrolytic lesions of either the dorsal fornix or the fimbria fornix were made bilaterally in rats. The latter treatment, not the former, blocked the behavioral sensitization.