Effects of reserpine and antidepressants on dopamine and DOPAC (3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid) concentrations in the striatum, olfactory tubercle and median eminence of rats.

The dopamine, noradrenaline and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) levels of various rat brain areas (median emience, olfactory tubercle, rostral and caudal part of the striatum) were measured. The effects of reserpine and antidepressants: amitriptyline, nomifensine and EGYT 475 (1-benzyl-4-/2'-piridylcarbonyl/piperazine) were investigated. The dopamine content of the median eminence proved to be the most sensitive to the depletory effect of reserpine. Reserpine (1 mg/kg i.p.) caused a decrease of dopamine in the median eminence, in the olfactory tubercle and in the rostral striatum but not in the caudal striatum. Amitriptyline and EGYT 475 antagonized the reserpine-induced dopamine depletion in the olfactory tubercle. In the median eminence amitriptyline attenuated the effect of the depletor while nomifensine augmented it; EGYT 475 was without effect. The antidepressants antagonized the reserpine-induced increase of DOPAC in the rostral part of the striatum.