| Literature DB >> 6834994 |
G P Mereu, C Pacitti, A Argiolas.
Abstract
The effect of (-)-cathinone (CAT), an alkaloid from khat leaves, on brain dopamine (DA) metabolism and on the firing rate of nigral DA neurons was studied in rats, in comparison with that of d-amphetamine. Like d-amphetamine, CAT (8-40 mg/kg i.p.) decreased DOPAC levels in the caudate nucleus, nucleus accumbens and frontal cortex, without modifying DA concentrations. CAT showed approximately one fifth of the potency of d-amphetamine in this effect. CAT, injected i.v. to unanesthetized, paralyzed rats, inhibited the firing rate of DA neurons in the substantia nigra, pars compacta, showing a similar potency to that of d-amphetamine in this respect. CAT-induced inhibition of dopaminergic firing was reversed by haloperidol.Entities:
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Year: 1983 PMID： 6834994 DOI： 10.1016/0024-3205(83)90814-7
Source DB: PubMed Journal: Life Sci ISSN： 0024-3205 Impact factor: 5.037