Elsevier

Alcohol

Volume 13, Issue 6, November–December 1996, Pages 569-574
Alcohol

Article
Serotonin-3 receptor and ethanol-stimulated somatodendritic dopamine release

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0741-8329(96)00069-9Get rights and content

Abstract

The effects of local application of the 5-HT3 receptor agonist, 1-(m-chlorophenyl)-biguanide (CPBG), and IP administration of ethanol on the extracellular levels of dopamine (DA) in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) were studied using in vivo microdialysis. Adult female Wistar rats were implanted with microdialysis probes in the VTA at least 24 h before each experiment. Stable extracellular levels of DA (101 ± 9 fmol/20 min) were established before initiating the experiments. Application of 10–250 μM CPBG through the microdialysis probe dosedependently enhanced the extracellular concentrations of DA but did not alter the levels of either 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid or homovanillic acid in the dialysate. The effects of CPBG were reversible and dependent upon Ca2+. Co-perfusion with the 5-HT3 receptor antagonist, 3-tropanyl-indole-3-carboxylate (ICS 205-930), inhibited the effects of CPBG on enhancing extracellular DA levels. The IP administration of 2g/kg ethanol significantly (p < 0.005) enhanced the levels of DA to 150% of baseline values; this ethanol-induced increase was prevented by local perfusion with 100 μM ICS 205–930. These results suggest that 5-HT3 receptors in the VTA are involved in regulating the somatodendritic release of DA and in mediating the stimulatory effects of ethanol on this neuronal system.

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