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THE ACTION OF MICRO‐ELECTROPHORETICALLY APPLIED 1‐3,4‐DIHYDROXYPHENYLALANINE (DOPA) ON SINGLE CORTICAL NEURONES
Author(s) -
BEVAN P.,
BRADSHAW C.M.,
SZABADI E.
Publication year - 1976
Publication title -
british journal of pharmacology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.432
H-Index - 211
eISSN - 1476-5381
pISSN - 0007-1188
DOI - 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1976.tb10401.x
Subject(s) - dihydroxyphenylalanine , acetylcholine , microelectrophoresis , atropine , phentolamine , cats , chemistry , endocrinology , iontophoresis , propranolol , medicine , norepinephrine , excitatory postsynaptic potential , neuroscience , dopamine , biology , inhibitory postsynaptic potential , biochemistry , electrophoresis
1 The technique of microelectrophoresis was used in order to compare the actions of l ‐3,4‐dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) and noradrenaline on single neurones in the cerebral cortices of cats and rats. 2 DOPA could both excite and depress cortical neurones. Cells excited by DOPA were also excited by noradrenaline and cells depressed by DOPA were also depressed by noradrenaline. 3 In the case of both excitatory and depressant responses, DOPA appeared to be less potent than noradrenaline. 4 Responses to DOPA and noradrenaline could be antagonized by phentolamine and propranolol. Responses to acetylcholine were not affected. 5 Responses to acetylcholine, but not responses to DOPA, were antagonized by atropine. 6 The results indicate that locally applied DOPA may mimic the actions of noradrenaline on cortical neurones. Possible mechanisms for these effects of DOPA are discussed.