METHYLENEDIOXYMETHAMPHETAMINE DEPRESSES GLUTAMATE-EVOKED NEURONAL FIRING AND INCREASES EXTRACELLULAR LEVELS OF DOPAMINE AND SEROTONIN IN THE NUCLEUS-ACCUMBENS IN-VIVO
Sr. White et al., METHYLENEDIOXYMETHAMPHETAMINE DEPRESSES GLUTAMATE-EVOKED NEURONAL FIRING AND INCREASES EXTRACELLULAR LEVELS OF DOPAMINE AND SEROTONIN IN THE NUCLEUS-ACCUMBENS IN-VIVO, Neuroscience, 62(1), 1994, pp. 41-50
The nucleus accumbens has been implicated as an important site for the
actions of many drugs that are used recreationally. This study examin
ed the effects of methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), a euphoric and
hallucinogenic drug, on glutamate-evoked neuronal firing and on extra
cellular levers of dopamine and serotonin in the nucleus accumbens of
the rat. Microiontophoretic application of MDMA inhibited glutamate-ev
oked firing of most of the nucleus accumbens cells that were tested (8
3 of 86), as did microiontophoretic application of dopamine and seroto
nin. MDMA-induced inhibition of glutamate-evoked firing was partially
blocked by the dopamine antagonist SCH39166 and was attenuated by comb
ined pretreatment with inhibitors of both serotonin and catecholamine
synthesis, p-chlorophenylalanine and alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine. MDMA app
lied directly into the nucleus accumbens and adjacent regions of the v
entral striatum through a dialysis probe increased extracellular level
s of both dopamine and serotonin. These results indicate that MDMA has
inhibitory effects on glutamate-evoked neuronal firing in the nucleus
accumbens and suggest that the inhibition is mediated by increased ex
tracellular dopamine and serotonin. Furthermore, these results permit
MDMA to be added to the extensive list of abused drugs that have been
demonstrated to elevate extracellular levels of dopamine and serotonin
in the nucleus accumbens.