Amphetamine-induced release of diadenosine polyphosphates--Ap4A and Ap5A--from caudate putamen of conscious rat.

The release of diadenosine polyphosphates--diadenosine tetraphosphate (Ap4A) and diadenosine pentaphosphate (Ap5A)--was measured by intracerebral push-pull perfusion in conscious rats after systemic amphetamine injection. Samples were collected from the caudate putamen, and nucleotide compounds were analyzed by HPLC. The presence of Ap4A and Ap5A was demonstrated by their retention times and phosphodiesterase digestion. Dinucleotides were not detectable before amphetamine injection (5 mg/kg). The maximal levels were reached 20 min after the injection with values of 12.9 +/- 0.9 and 11.5 +/- 0.9 pmol/fraction for Ap4A and Ap5A, respectively. A slow and progressive decrease in their concentration followed. This study shows for the first time the amphetamine-induced release of diadenosine polyphosphates in conscious rats, and a role for Ap4A and Ap5A in the central nervous system is therefore suggested.