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The dopamine beta‐hydroxylase inhibitor nepicastat increases dopamine release and potentiates psychostimulant‐induced dopamine release in the prefrontal cortex
Author(s) -
Devoto Paola,
Flore Giovanna,
Saba Pierluigi,
Bini Valentina,
Gessa Gian Luigi
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
addiction biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.445
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1369-1600
pISSN - 1355-6215
DOI - 10.1111/adb.12026
Subject(s) - nucleus accumbens , dopamine , prefrontal cortex , amphetamine , microdialysis , catecholamine , chemistry , neuroscience , neurotransmitter , endocrinology , medicine , psychology , central nervous system , cognition
Abstract The dopamine‐beta‐hydroxylase inhibitor nepicastat has been shown to reproduce disulfiram ability to suppress the reinstatement of cocaine seeking after extinction in rats. To clarify its mechanism of action, we examined the effect of nepicastat, given alone or in association with cocaine or amphetamine, on catecholamine release in the medial prefrontal cortex and the nucleus accumbens, two key regions involved in the reinforcing and motivational effects of cocaine and in the reinstatement of cocaine seeking. Nepicastat effect on catecholamines was evaluated by microdialysis in freely moving rats. Nepicastat reduced noradrenaline release both in the medial prefrontal cortex and in the nucleus accumbens, and increased dopamine release in the medial prefrontal cortex but not in the nucleus accumbens. Moreover, nepicastat markedly potentiated cocaine‐ and amphetamine‐induced extracellular dopamine accumulation in the medial prefrontal cortex but not in the nucleus accumbens. Extracellular dopamine accumulation produced by nepicastat alone or by its combination with cocaine or amphetamine was suppressed by the α 2 ‐adrenoceptor agonist clonidine. It is suggested that nepicastat, by suppressing noradrenaline synthesis and release, eliminated the α 2 ‐adrenoceptor mediated inhibitory mechanism that constrains dopamine release and cocaine‐ and amphetamine‐induced dopamine release from noradrenaline or dopamine terminals in the medial prefrontal cortex.