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Mesolimbic dopaminergic supersensitivity following electrical kindling of the amygdala

Journal Article · · Biol. Psychiatry; (United States)

Limbic seizures developed in rats following daily electrical stimulation of the basolateral nucleus of the amygdala. Animals were designated as kindled after five complete (stage 5) behavioral seizures were observed. A subgroup, designated as superkindled, received three additional weeks of electrical stimulations. Kindled rats were significantly subsensitive to the stereotypy-inducing effects of apomorphine, a direct dopamine agonist, compared to controls. Superkindled rats were supersensitive to the effects of apomorphine. However, both kindled and superkindled rats demonstrated an increase in /sup 3/H-spiperone Bmax values, reflecting dopamine D2-receptor densities, in the nucleus accumbens ipsilateral to the stimulating electrode. The number of interictal spikes recorded from the stimulating amygdaloid electrode during the last week of kindling was correlated with changes in apomorphine sensitivity in individual animals.

Research Organization:
Stanford Univ. School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA (USA)
OSTI ID:
5346792
Journal Information:
Biol. Psychiatry; (United States), Journal Name: Biol. Psychiatry; (United States) Vol. 23:3; ISSN BIPCB
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English