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Brain Res 1999 May 8;827(1-2):104-12

Augmented methamphetamine-induced overflow of striatal dopamine 1 day after
GDNF administration.

Cass WA, Walker DJ, Manning MW
Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, MN 224 Chandler Medical Center,
University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536-0298, USA.

Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) can attenuate the
dopamine (DA)-depleting effects of neurotoxic doses of methamphetamine
(METH) when given 1 day prior to the METH. The neurotoxic effects of METH
may be due, in part, to sustained increases in extracellular levels of DA.
It is therefore possible that GDNF may be altering the effects of METH by
influencing extracellular levels of DA during the METH treatment. The
purpose of the present study was to determine if GDNF has effects on
extracellular levels of DA in the striatum by 24-h post-administration. GDNF
(10 &mgr;g in 2 &mgr;l vehicle) or vehicle was injected into the right
striatum or substantia nigra of anesthetized male rats. The next day the
animals were anesthetized again and dialysis probes were positioned in both
the right and left striata and perfused with artificial cerebrospinal fluid.
Following the collection of baseline samples the rats were administered METH
(5 mg/kg, s.c.). The METH injections dramatically increased extracellular DA
levels on both sides of the brain. However, levels on the GDNF injected side
were significantly greater than levels on the contralateral side. Basal
levels of DA were not significantly different between the two sides, but
levels of DA metabolites were elevated on the GDNF side. Post-mortem tissue
levels of DA metabolites, but not DA, were also elevated in the striatum and
substantia nigra. These results indicate that GDNF has significant effects
on DA neuron functioning within 24 h of administration and that GDNF can
augment DA overflow while inhibiting the neurotoxic effects of METH.
Copyright 1999 Elsevier Science B.V.

PMID: 10320698, UI: 99255457
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