Cocaine and Amphetamine Increase Extracellular Dopamine in the Nucleus Accumbens of Mice Lacking the Dopamine Transporter Gene
by
Carboni E, Spielewoy C, Vacca C, Nosten-Bertrand M, Giros B, Di Chiara G.
Department of Toxicology and Consiglio Nazionale
delle Ricerche Center for Neuropharmacology,
University of Cagliari, 09126 Cagliari, Italy,
and
Neurobiology and Psychiatry Faculte de Medicine de Creteil,
94000 Creteil, France
J Neurosci 2001 May 1; 21(9):RC141

ABSTRACT

Behavioral and biochemical studies suggest that dopamine (DA) plays a role in the reinforcing and addictive properties of drugs of abuse. Recently, this hypothesis has been challenged on the basis of the observation that, in mice genetically lacking the plasma membrane dopamine transporter [DAT-knock out (DAT-KO)], cocaine maintained its reinforcing properties of being self-administered and inducing place preference, despite the failure to increase extracellular dopamine in the dorsal striatum. Here we report that, in DAT-KO mice, cocaine and amphetamine increase dialysate dopamine in the medial part of the nucleus accumbens. Moreover, reboxetine, a specific blocker of the noradrenaline transporter, increased DA in the nucleus accumbens of DAT-KO but not of wild-type mice; in contrast, GBR 12909, a specific blocker of the dopamine transporter, increased dialysate dopamine in the nucleus accumbens of wild-type but not of DAT-KO mice. These observations provide an explanation for the persistence of cocaine reinforcement in DAT-KO mice and support the hypothesis of a primary role of nucleus accumbens dopamine in drug reinforcement.

Incas
5-HT3
History
Inca Tea
Mummies
Stimulants
Coca paste
Insecticide
Oral cocaine
Coke v crack
Adrenergic crisis
The pleasure centres
Cocaine and the shell of the nucleus accumbens

01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

MORE
HedWeb
cannabis-marijuana.com
Future Opioids
BLTC Research
Wirehead Hedonism
Paradise-Engineering
Utopian Pharmacology
The Hedonistic Imperative
When Is It Best to Take Crack Cocaine?

The Good Drug Guide
The Responsible Parent's Guide To
Healthy Mood Boosters For All The Family