?2 and ?-adrenoceptor agonists modulate [3H]dopamine release from rat nucleus accumbens slices: Implications for research into depression

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Abstract
The modulatory effects of noradrenergic agonists on the 25 mM K+-induced release of [3H]dopamine (3H-DA) from rat brain nucleus accumbens slices was investigated, using a superfusion technique. The K+-induced release of3H-DA was Ca2+ dependent, significantly enhanced (25–32%;pp2-adrenoceptor agonist clonidine (10 μM). At these concentrations neither drug affected basal release of3H-DA. Clonidine (100 μM) increased the basal release of3H-DA, while decreasing the K+-induced release by 19% (p3H-DA into noradrenergic neurons, did not alter the inhibitory effect of clonidine (10 μM) on3H-DA release. This study provides direct evidence that noradrenergic neurons can modulate dopaminergic neurotransmission in the mesolimbic system.