Turnover rate and stimulus-evoked release of dopamine by progesterone and N-methyl-D-aspartic acid in rat striatum during pregnancy

European Journal of Pharmacology
R J Cabrera, C Bregonzio

Abstract

The proposed modulatory role of progesterone on dopaminergic nerve terminal activity in the striatum was examined in pregnant rats. Endogenous dopamine concentration and the in vitro effect of exogenous progesterone in association with N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) upon [3H]dopamine release from striatal slices were determined. Striatal dopamine and 3,4-dihidroxyphenylacetic acid (Dopac) contents on day 5 of pregnancy were significantly higher than those found at the other stages of pregnancy and proestrus. On days 5 and 15 of pregnancy, progesterone (400 nM) was able to enhance [3H]dopamine release stimulated by NMDA (50 microM). A similar effect was found in striatal slices from proestrus rats. In contrast, progesterone was without an effect on days 1, 10 and 20 of pregnancy and postpartum. The results suggest that an increased synthesis and/or release of dopamine takes place on certain days of pregnancy and, simultaneously, that there is a significant increase in the responsiveness of striatal dopaminergic nerve terminals to excitatory inputs. They provide further support for a modulatory role of progesterone in relation with a glutamatergic action on dopaminergic activity in the corpus striatum.

References

Mar 29, 1991·Brain Research·B Moghaddam, R J Gruen
Dec 1, 1990·Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology·M MorissetteT Di Paolo
Sep 1, 1990·Brain Research Bulletin·M MorissetteT Di Paolo
Jun 5, 1986·European Journal of Pharmacology·T Di PaoloM Daigle
Dec 1, 1982·Biology of Reproduction·M L ForcelledoH B Croxatto
Oct 1, 1995·Journal of Neurochemistry·C PasqualiniV Leviel
May 1, 1995·Progress in Neuro-psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry·M PetitclercT Di Paolo
Jan 1, 1993·Journal of Neural Transmission. General Section·K A KeefeE D Abercrombie
Feb 15, 1993·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·S A Tischkau, V D Ramirez

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Apr 13, 2001·European Journal of Pharmacology·M R LaconiR J Cabrera
Apr 15, 2000·Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior·D W JohnsonD J Mokler
Jul 12, 2002·Behavioural Brain Research·Cecilia Ruth EstrellaRicardo Jorge Cabrera
Apr 13, 2002·Japanese Journal of Pharmacology·Hiroaki ArakiYutaka Gomita

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Basal Ganglia

Basal Ganglia are a group of subcortical nuclei in the brain associated with control of voluntary motor movements, procedural and habit learning, emotion, and cognition. Here is the latest research.