S. Dethy et al., Pergolide potentiates L-DOPA-induced dopamine release in rat striatum after lesioning with 6-hydroxydopamine, J NEURAL TR, 106(2), 1999, pp. 145-158
We used intrastriatal microdialysis to study the effect of pergolide, a D-1
/D-2 dopamine (DA) receptor agonist on biotransformation of exogenous L-DOP
A in hemi-Parkinsonian rats.
DA and metabolites were assayed by microbore liquid chromatography. Pergoli
de (50 mu g/kg, i.p) caused a 67% and 87% decrease in striatal EC levels of
DA in intact and denervated striatum respectively. In intact striatum but
not in denervated striatum, pergolide decreased EC levels of 3,4-dihydroxyp
henylacetic acid (DOPAC) and homovanillic acid (HVA) (53% and 42% decrease,
respectively). L-DOPA (100 mg/kg, i.p.) produced significant increase in E
C levels of DA, DOPAC and HVA in intact and denervated striatum with and wi
thout local perfusion of 10(-4)M pergolide. In denervated striatum, L-DOPA-
induced DA increase was significantly higher in rats with pergolide. Our re
sults suggest that, in an animal model of Parkinson's disease, pergolide in
association with L-DOPA favors the restoration of striatal EC DA levels.