Effects of electrical stimulation of various midline thalamic nuclei on the bilateral release of dopamine from dendrites and nerve terminals of neurons in the nigro-striatal dopaminergic pathways.

The effects of electrical stimulation of midline thalamic nuclei on the release of [3H]dopamine ( [3H]DA) were determined in both substantiae nigrae (SN) and caudate nuclei of halothane-anesthetized cats using the push-pull cannula method. [3H]DA release was increased in the four structures following stimulation of the interanteromedialis nucleus (IAM) but only enhanced in both SN when nucleus reuniens (RE) was stimulated. In contrast, no effect was detected after delivery of the stimuli to nucleus centralis medialis. These results indicate that the anterior part of the thalamic massa intermedia (IAM and RE particularly) is involved in the bilateral regulation of DA release from nerve terminals and dendrites of the nigro-striatal dopaminergic neurons.