4-Phenyltetrahydroisoquinoline, but not nomifensine or cocaine, inhibits methamphetamine-induced dopamine release.

The inhibitory effect of 4-phenyltetrahydroisoquinoline (4-PTIQ) on methamphetamine-induced dopamine release in the rat nucleus accumbens was investigated using a brain microdialysis method. Methamphetamine (10(-6) M) infusion through a microdialysis probe induced the release of dopamine. Although the uptake inhibitors, cocaine (3 x 10(-6) M) and nomifensine (10(-6) M), failed to block dopamine release, 4-PTIQ (10(-6 M) inhibited the dopamine-releasing effect of methamphetamine. 4-PTIQ did not affect the elevation of the extracellular dopamine level induced by high concentrations of nomifensine (10(-5) M) and cocaine (3 x 10(-5) M). 4-PTIQ was the weakest inhibitor of [3H]dopamine uptake by rat striatal synaptosomes. These results suggest that 4-PTIQ is a selective antagonist against the dopamine-releasing effect of methamphetamine in the nucleus accumbens.