Amphetamine disruption of prepulse inhibition of acoustic startle is reversed by depletion of mesolimbic dopamine (original) (raw)

Abstract

Previous studies have demonstrated that dopamine (DA) agonists disrupt sensorimotor gating as measured by prepulse inhibition (PPI) of the acoustic startle response (ASR) in rats; other reports suggest that this stimulant-induced disruption of PPI may reflect drug-induced increases in ASR amplitude rather than changes in sensorimotor gating. In the current study, 6-hydroxydopamine lesions that depleted dopamine from the nucleus accumbens, olfactory tubercles and anterior striatum reversed the disruption of PPI caused by amphetamine (AMPH), but did not disrupt AMPH potentiation of ASR baseline. These findings strongly suggest that increased mesolimbic DA activity is one substrate of the AMPH-induced disruption of PPI; in contrast, AMPH potentiation of baseline startle amplitude may be independent of mesolimbic DA activation.

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Authors and Affiliations

1. Department of Psychiatry, M003, University of California at San Diego, 92093, La Jolla, CA, USA
   N. R. Swerdlow, M. A. Geyer & D. L. Braff
2. Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Virginia, MCV Station, Box 613, 23298, Richmond, VA, USA
   R. S. Mansbach
3. Preclinical Neuroscience, Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation, 10666 North Torrey Pines Road, 92037, La Jolla, CA, USA
   G. F. Koob
4. 3rd Department of Neurology, University of Pavia, Italy
   L. Pulvirenti (Visiting Scientist)

Authors

1. N. R. Swerdlow
2. R. S. Mansbach
3. M. A. Geyer
4. L. Pulvirenti
5. G. F. Koob
6. D. L. Braff

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Swerdlow, N.R., Mansbach, R.S., Geyer, M.A. et al. Amphetamine disruption of prepulse inhibition of acoustic startle is reversed by depletion of mesolimbic dopamine.Psychopharmacology 100, 413–416 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02244616

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• Received: 22 August 1989
• Issue date: March 1990
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02244616

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