Effects of dizocilpine (MK 801) on noradrenaline, serotonin and dopamine release and uptake

In the present study, we examined the actions of the NMDA antagonist dizoci lpine (MK801) on electrically evoked release and uptake of noradrenaline (N A) in the locus coeruleus (LC), serotonin (5-HT) in the dorsal raphe nucleu s (DRN) and dopamine (DA) in the nucleus accumbens (NAc), measured by fast cyclic voltammetry (FCV) in rat brain slices. Dizocilpine (10 mu M) signifi cantly increased NA (to 248 +/- 15%) and 5-HT release (to 184+/-29%) and sl owed monoamine uptake in the LC (t(1/2)=853+/-129%) and the DRN (t(1/2)=387 +/-70%), respectively. However, dizocilpine had no effect on DA release or uptake in NAc. Actions on monoamines are thus likely and should be consider ed in the interpretation of data regarding dizocilpine. NeuroReport 11:173- 176 (C) 2000 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.