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Regional distribution of monoamines in the nucleus accumbens of the rat

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Abstract

Monoamine concentrations were low in the rostral area of the nucleus accumbens. Their distributions were not identical. Differences were observed in the medial area. DA concentrations were high in both medial and caudal areas. Noradrenaline (NA) and serotonin (5-HT) concentrations were considerably lower than the dopamine (DA) concentration. The NA concentration was highest in the caudal area of the nucleus accumbens and the (5-HT) concentration was highest in the ventrocaudal area. There was a rostrocaudal decrease in the 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC)/DA and 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid (5-HIAA)/5-HT ratios. Uptake of [3H]DA and [14C]choline was lowest in the rostral area. The K+-stimulated release of [14C]acetylcholine (ACh) was also lowest rostrally, but there was no rostrocaudal difference in the K+-stimulated release of [3H]DA. These results provide further evidence of the heterogeneity of the nucleus accumbens.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. MRC Research Unit for the Neurochemistry of Mental Diseases, Department of Chemical Pathology, University of Stellenbosch, Tygerberg Hospital, P.O. Box 113, 7505, Tygerberg, South Africa

    R. Allin, V. A. Russell, M. C. L. Lamm & J. J. F. Taljaard

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  1. R. Allin
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  2. V. A. Russell
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  3. M. C. L. Lamm
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  4. J. J. F. Taljaard
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Allin, R., Russell, V.A., Lamm, M.C.L. et al. Regional distribution of monoamines in the nucleus accumbens of the rat. Neurochem Res 13, 937–942 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00970765

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