Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effects of amphetamine and apomorphine on locomotor activity after kainic acid lesion of the nucleus accumbens septi in the rat

  • Original Investigations
  • Published:
Psychopharmacology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Kainic acid injections into the nucleus accumbens in rats induced severe loss of neuronal perikarya and the presence of gliosis in its vicinity, without affecting more distant areas. Spontaneous locomotor activity was elevated in the lesioned rats. After a low dose of d-amphetamine (1.5 mg/kg) no significant differences in locomotor activity were found between lesioned and sham-operated rats, while the increase in locomotor activity normally induced by a moderate dose of apomorphine (1 mg/kg) was blocked in lesioned rats. These results indicate that although dopamine receptors on the nucleus accumbens neurons are involved in the mechanisms mediating locomotor behaviour, the locomotor stimulant effect of d-amphetamine is not exclusively dependent on intra-accumbens dopaminergic activity.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Carey RJ (1982) Septal lesions enhance hyperactivity induced either by amphetamine or lesions of the nucleus accumbens septi. Behav Brain Res 5:43–52

    Google Scholar 

  • Cole SO (1978) Brain mechanisms of amphetamine-induced anorexia, locomotion and stereotypy. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2:89–100

    Google Scholar 

  • Costall B, Naylor RJ, Cannon JG, Lee T (1977) Differentiation of the dopamine mechanisms mediating stereotyped behaviour and hyperactivity in the nucleus accumbens and caudato-putamen. J Pharm Pharmacol 29:337–342

    Google Scholar 

  • Costall B, Naylor RJ, Nohria V (1979) Hyperactivity response to apomorphine and amphetamine in the mouse: The importance of the nucleus accumbens and caudate-putamen. J Pharm Pharmacol 31:259–261

    Google Scholar 

  • Coyle JT, Shwarcz R, Bennet JP, Campochiaro P (1979) Clinical, neuropathologic and pharmacological aspects of Huntington's disease: correlates with a new animal model. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol 1:13–30

    Google Scholar 

  • Fink JS, Smith GP (1979) Abnormal pattern of amphetamine locomotion after 6-OHDA lesion of the anteromedial caudate. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 11:23–30

    Google Scholar 

  • Fink JS, Smith GP (1980) Relationships between selective denervation of dopamine terminal fields in the anterior forebrain and behavioral responses to amphetamine and apomorphine. Brain Res 201:107–127

    Google Scholar 

  • Iversen SD, Koob GF (1977) Behavioral implication of dopaminergic neurons in the mesolimbic system. In: Costa E, Gessa GL (eds) Advances in Biochemical Psychopharmacology, vol 31, Raven Press, New York, pp 209–214

    Google Scholar 

  • Jackson DM, Anden NE, Dalhstrom A (1975) A functional effect of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens and in some other dopaminergic parts of the rat brain. Psychopharmacologia 45:139–149

    Google Scholar 

  • Joyce EM, Stinus L, Iversen SD (1983) Effect of injections of 6-OHDA into either nucleus accumbens septi or frontal cortex on spontaneous and drug-induced activity. Neuropharmacology 22:1141–1145

    Google Scholar 

  • Kehne JH, Sant WW, Sorenson CA (1981) The effects of radio-frequency lesions of the nucleus accumbens on d-amphetamine-induced locomotor and rearing behavior in rats. Psychopharmacology 75:363–367

    Google Scholar 

  • Kelly PH, Iversen SD (1976) Selective 6-OHDA-induced destruction of mesolimbic dopamine neurons: Abolition of psycho-stimulant-induced locomotor activity in rats. Eur J Pharmacol 40:45–546

    Google Scholar 

  • Kelly PH, Roberts DCS (1983) Effects of amphetamine and apomorphine on locomotor activity after 6-OHDA and electrolytic lesions of the nucleus accumbens septi. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 19:137–144

    Google Scholar 

  • Kelly PH, Seviour PW, Iversen SD (1975) Amphetamine and apomorphine responses in the rat following 6-OHDA lesions of the nucleus accumbens septi and corpus striatum. Brain Res 94:507–522

    Google Scholar 

  • Köhler C, Shwarcz R (1983) Comparison of ibotenate and kainate neurotoxicity in rat brain: A histological study. Neuroscience 8:819–835

    Google Scholar 

  • Koob GF, Riley SJ, Smith SC, Robbins TW (1978) Effects of 6-hydroxydopamine lesions of the nucleus accumbens septi and olfactory tubercle on feeding, locomotor activity and amphetamine anorexia in the rat. J Comp Physiol Psychol 92:917–927

    Google Scholar 

  • Lindvall O, Bjorklund A (1978) Anatomy of dopaminergic neuron systems in the rat brain. In: Roberts PJ, Woodruff GN, Iversen LL (eds) Advances in Biochemical Psychopharmacology, vol 19, Raven Press, New York, pp 1–23

    Google Scholar 

  • Makanjuola RO, Ashcroft GW (1982) Behavioural effects of electrolytic and 6-hydroxydopamine lesions of the accumbens and the caudate-putamen nuclei. Psychopharmacology 76:33–40

    Google Scholar 

  • Makanjuola ROA, Dow RC, Ashcroft GW (1980) Behavioural responses to stereotaxically controlled injections of monoamine neurotransmitters into the accumbens and caudate-putamen nuclei. Psychopharmacology 71:227–235

    Google Scholar 

  • Mason ST, Sanberg PR, Fibiger HC (1978) Amphetamine-induced locomotor activity and stereotypy after kainic acid lesions of the striatum. Life Sci 22:451–460

    Google Scholar 

  • Naalsund LU (1983) The toxic effect of kainic acid on neurotransmitters in nucleus accumbens. Eur J Pharmacol 96:137–140

    Google Scholar 

  • Olney JW, Rhee V, Ho OL (1974) Kainic acid: a powerful neurotoxic analog of glutamate. Brain Res 77:507–512

    Google Scholar 

  • Paxinos G, Watson C (1982) The rat brain in stereotaxic coordinates, Academic Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Pijnenburg AJJ, Honig WMM, Van der Heyden JAM, Van Rossum JM (1976) Effects of chemical stimulation of the mesolimbic dopamine system upon locomotor activity. Eur J Pharmacol 35:49–58

    Google Scholar 

  • Pijnenburg AJJ, Honig WMM, Van Rossum JM (1975) Antagonism of apomorphine- and d-amphetamine-induced locomotor activity by injection of haloperidol into the nucleus accumbens of the rat. Psychopharmacologia 41:87–95

    Google Scholar 

  • Snedecor GW, Cochran WG (1978) Statistical Methods, 6th edition, 9th printing, The Iowa State University Press, Ames, Iowa

    Google Scholar 

  • Wirtshafter D, Asin KE, Kent EW (1978) Nucleus accumbens lesions reduce amphetamine hyperthermia, but not hyperactivity. Eur J Pharmacol 51:449–452

    Google Scholar 

  • Zaczek R, Simonton R, Coyle JT (1980) Local and distant neuronal degeneration following intrastriatal injection of kainic acid. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 39:245–264

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacology, Medical School, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece

    Evangelos Kafetzopoulos

Authors
  1. Evangelos Kafetzopoulos
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kafetzopoulos, E. Effects of amphetamine and apomorphine on locomotor activity after kainic acid lesion of the nucleus accumbens septi in the rat. Psychopharmacology 88, 271–274 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00180823

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00180823

Key words

Search

Navigation