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The Neurosteroid Pregnenolone Sulfate Increases Cortical Acetylcholine Release: A Microdialysis Study in Freely Moving Rats
Author(s) -
Darnaudéry Muriel,
Koehl Muriel,
Pallarés Marc,
Le Moal Michel,
Mayo Willy
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
journal of neurochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.75
H-Index - 229
eISSN - 1471-4159
pISSN - 0022-3042
DOI - 10.1046/j.1471-4159.1998.71052018.x
Subject(s) - microdialysis , pregnenolone sulfate , acetylcholine , striatum , neuroactive steroid , endocrinology , chemistry , medicine , cholinergic , cerebral cortex , oxotremorine , pregnenolone , cortex (anatomy) , choline , extracellular , neuroscience , biology , agonist , dopamine , biochemistry , gabaa receptor , receptor , hormone , steroid
The effects of pregnenolone sulfate (Preg‐S) administrations (0, 12, 48, 96, and 192 nmol intracerebroventricularly) on acetylcholine (ACh) release in the frontal cortex and dorsal striatum were investigated by on‐line microdialysis in freely moving rats. Following Preg‐S administration, extracellular ACh levels in the frontal cortex increased in a dose‐dependent manner, whereas no change was observed in the striatum. The highest doses (96 and 192 nmol) induced a threefold increase above control values of ACh release, the intermediate dose of 48 nmol led to a twofold increase, whereas after the dose of 12 nmol, the levels of ACh were not different from those observed after vehicle injection. The increase in cortical ACh reached a maximum 30 min after administration for all the active doses. Taken together, these results suggest that Preg‐S interacts with the cortical cholinergic system, which may account, at least in part, for the promnesic and/or antiamnesic properties of this neurosteroid.