GABAergic Control of Nigrostriatal and Mesolimbic Dopamine in the Rat Brain.

ABSTRACT: Purpose: The present study assessed the effects of the GABA_A receptor (R) agonist muscimol (MUS), and the GABA_AR antagonist bicuculline (BIC) on neocortical and subcortical radioligand binding to dopamine D_2/3Rs in relation to motor and exploratory behaviors in the rat. Methods: D_2/3R binding was measured with small animal SPECT in baseline and after challenge with either 1 mg/kg MUS or 1 mg/kg BIC, using [¹²³I]IBZM as radioligand. Motor/exploratory behaviors were assessed for 30 min in an open field prior to radioligand administration. Anatomical information was gained with a dedicated small animal MRI tomograph. Based on the Paxinos rat brain atlas, regions of interest were defined on SPECT-MRI overlays. Estimations of

SUBMITTER: Nikolaus S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5862131 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature