Dissociation of the actions of uptake blockers upon dopamine overflow and uptake in the rat nucleus accumbens: in vivo voltammetric data.

Fast cyclic voltammetry, at carbon fibre microelectrodes, was used to monitor stimulated overflow and uptake of DA in the nucleus accumbens of the rat. Several recognised blockers of neuronal uptake of DA were examined for their actions on each process. Benztropine, cocaine, GBR 12909 and nomifensine elevated the overflow of DA, while only nomifensine and bupropion blocked uptake. The actions of the drugs upon uptake did not correlate with their effects on overflow of DA. It is therefore concluded that the mechanisms by which the drugs influence overflow and uptake are different. It cannot be assumed that the elevation of extracellular DA is solely the result of blockade of uptake by these drugs.