Pentylenetetrazol-kindling modulates stimulated dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens of rats

Kindling-induced activation of dopaminergic neurones in the nucleus accumbe ns in pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-kindled rats was studied using microdialysis. Dopamine (DA) release after PTZ challenge was measured: (1) two weeks and (2) ten weeks after kindling completion and (3) two weeks after a kindling procedure with diazepam (DZP) treatment. In (1) a significant increase in D A concentration was found after PTZ challenge and this increase was still e vident 10 weeks after kindling completion (2). Coadministration of DZP in t he course of kindling development inhibited the increase in sensitivity of the accumbens dopaminergic system (3). (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc.