UNILATERAL FETAL MESENCEPHALIC GRAFTS IN INTACT RATS REDUCE AMPHETAMINE-INDUCED DOPAMINE RELEASE IN BOTH STRIATA - AN IN-VIVO VOLTAMMETRIC STUDY

This study investigated amphetamine-induced striatal dopamine release after intraventricular unilateral fetal mesencephalic grafts in otherw ise intact rats. Dopamine was monitored in vivo by differential pulse voltammetry. In grafted animals, amphetamine-induced dopamine release was decreased compared to sham-grafted, age-matched controls. This dec rease was observed in the grafted as well as in the contralateral stri atum five months after intraventricular grafting. There was no measura ble effect of the grafts on the amphetamine-induced rotational behavio ur. Our results exceed former observations reporting decreased ampheta mine-induced dopamine release in the contralateral striatum of 6-hydro xydopamine-lesioned and unilaterally-grafted rats which had been attri buted to a reduction of dopamine transporters. Furthermore, it was sho wn that concerning this effect ventral mesencephalic grafts are indepe ndent of a previous 6-hydroxydopamine lesion. (C) 1997 IBRO. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.