POST-FEEDING INCREASES IN ACCUMBAL DIALYSATE DOPAMINE REFLECT PERSISTING INCREASES IN DOPAMINE RELEASE

To determine whether post-feeding increases in dialysate dopamine (DA) in the nucleus accumbens are associated with persisting increases in DA release, we examined the effect of Ca++-free perfusion on post-feed ing dialysate concentrations of DA. Post-feeding dialysate DA is entir ely Ca++-dependent, suggesting the existence of post-feeding increases in exocytotic DA release and the ability of microdialysis to monitor dynamic changes in DA release through behaviour. (C) 1998 Elsevier Sci ence B.V. All rights reserved.