Effect of selective noradrenergic denervation on noradrenaline content and [3H]dopamine release in rat nucleus accumbens slices.

DSP4 (N-(2-chloroethyl)-N-ethyl-2-bromobenzylamine) treatment (50 mg/kg i.p., 10 days previously) significantly decreased the noradrenaline (NA) content of the rostral part of the nucleus accumbens. The medial and caudal areas were not affected. The nucleus accumbens appears to receive noradrenergic innervation predominantly from subcoeruleus nuclei of the pons-medulla while the locus coeruleus neurons project to the rostral area. The isoproterenol-induced enhancement of the K+-evoked release of [3H]dopamine (DA) was not affected by DSP4 treatment. Noradrenergic denervation does not appear to have been sufficient to cause up-regulation of postsynaptic beta-adrenoceptors.