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Acute effects of lithium on dopaminergic responses: Iontophoretic studies in the rat visual cortex
Author(s) -
Gottberg Estela,
Montreuil Bernard,
Reader Tomas A.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
synapse
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.809
H-Index - 106
eISSN - 1098-2396
pISSN - 0887-4476
DOI - 10.1002/syn.890020412
Subject(s) - dopaminergic , agonist , chemistry , quinpirole , inhibitory postsynaptic potential , acetylcholine , dopamine , excitatory postsynaptic potential , lithium (medication) , iontophoresis , pharmacology , neuroscience , endocrinology , receptor , psychology , biology , biochemistry
The interactions between lithium and cortical dopaminergic receptors were investigated using the iontophoretic technique to record and apply dopaminergic compounds, GABA, acetylcholine and LiCL on neurons in the primary visual cortex of the rat. The main responses to dopamine (DA) or to the D 1 agonist (±)SKF38393 on spontaneously‐active (SA) or visually‐driven (VD) units was a prolonged decrease in firing and a reduction in the responsiveness to pulses of acetylcholine. The D 1 antagonist SCH23390, applied iontophoretically or intravenously, blocked or attenuated the inhibitory responses to both DA and (±)SKF38393. The D 2 agonist quinpirole (LY171555) either produced only slight excitations or had no effects on both VD and SA units. The concomitant application of lithium blocked the inhibitory responses to DA and to (±)SKF38393 but did not modify the responsiveness to LY171555. In addition, the DA‐ and (±)SKF38393‐induced decreases in responsiveness to acetylchline were also suppressed by lithium. These effects were on dopaminergic mechanisms, since the excitatory responses to acetylcholine alone as well as the inhibitions causes by GABA were unchanged by the application of lithium. These results imply that the modifications in sensitivity to dopaminergic agents induced by lithium are mediated by dopamine D 1 receptors and are discussed in relation to adenylatecyclase.