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Neurochemical effects of cocaine following acute and repeated injection
Author(s) -
Taylor Dorothy,
Ho Beng T.
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
journal of neuroscience research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.72
H-Index - 160
eISSN - 1097-4547
pISSN - 0360-4012
DOI - 10.1002/jnr.490030203
Subject(s) - neurochemical , tryptophan hydroxylase , serotonin , dopamine , amphetamine , tryptophan , medicine , endocrinology , stimulation , methylphenidate , norepinephrine , pharmacology , chemistry , biochemistry , receptor , attention deficit hyperactivity disorder , amino acid , psychiatry , serotonergic
Following repeated injection in the rat, cocaine decreased the concentration of serotonin in the septum‐caudate and increased the metabolism of hypothalamic norepinephrine and also striatal dopamine to a lesser extent. Furthermore, cocaine significantly decreased the activity of the rate‐limiting enzyme, tryptophan hydroxylase. In a comparative study d‐amphetamine and methylphenidate were found to exert an effect opposite to cocaine in the activation of tryptophan hydroxylase. These findings indicate that cocaine may lower central serotonin function by decreasing its availability for neural transmission. This count account for the stimulation of locomotor activity observed after cocaine administration.