Effects on monoamine levels in rat CNS after chronic administration of cocaine / Efecto de la administración crónica de cocaína sobre los niveles de monoaminas en el sistema nervioso central de la rata

ABSTRACT

We have previously reported time dependent and dose dependent changes in the rat dopaminergic receptor system following chronic administration of cocaine (upregulation of cacaina, D1, and DA-uptake sites). We have now evaluated the effects of chronic cacaine exposure on the central catecholamine/indolamine neurotransmitter systems. Groups of rats were injected with cocaine (15 mg/kg, i.p, b.i.d.) or saline for 1,3,7,14 or 21 days. Cortical and striatal tissues were analysed for morepinephrine, dopamine, serotomin and their primary metabolites using a HPLC-ECD method. Chronic administration of cacaine did not change the cortical and striatal concentrations of the neurotransmitters under study; except, for a transient increase in the cortical MHPG concentration on day 3. These results suggest that changes in the dopaminergic receptor system following chronic cocaine exposure are not to changes in the neurotransmitter concentrations