EFFECTS OF METHYL MERCURY ON THE IN-VIVO RELEASE OF DOPAMINE AND ITS ACIDIC METABOLITES DOPAC AND HVA FROM STRIATUM OF RATS

Mercury is a neurotoxic agent that produces different effects on the b rain. In the present work, the effects of chronic doses of methyl merc ury (MeHg) were studied on the dopaminergic system of the rat striatum , using microdialysis coupled to highperformance liquid chromatography in order to quantify the in vivo release of dopamine (DA) and its aci dic metabolites DOPAC and HVA. The administration of an equivalent tot al dose of 6 mg/kg of MeHg induced significant increases in the striat al release of DA and/or its acidic metabolites, independently of the p attern of administration. These effects are discussed on the base of t he release and the metabolization of DA. In conclusion, the effect of MeHg administered under these experimental conditions on the in vivo r elease of DA and its metabolites seems to have a dose-dependent compon ent and seems to be an accumulative process. (C) 1997 Academic Press.