Selective alterations in cerebral metabolism within the mesocorticolimbic dopaminergic system produced by acute cocaine administration in rats

Journal Article · Sun May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1988 · Neuropsychopharmacology; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0893-133X(88)90002-4· OSTI ID:5822194

Porrino, L J; Domer, F R; Crane, A M; Sokoloff, L

The 2-(/sup 14/C)deoxyglucose method was used to examine the effects of acute intravenous administration of cocaine on local cerebral glucose utilization in rats. These effects were correlated with the effects of cocaine on locomotor activity assessed simultaneously in the same animals. At the lowest dose of cocaine, 0.5 mg/kg (1.47 mumol/kg), alterations in glucose utilization were restricted to the medial prefrontal cortex and nucleus accumbens. Metabolic activity at 1.0 mg/kg (2.9 mumol/kg) was altered in these structures, but in the substantia nigra reticulata and lateral habenula as well. The selectivity of cocaine's effects at low doses demonstrates the particular sensitivity of these structures to cocaine's actions in the brain. In contrast, 5.0 mg/kg (14.7 mumol/kg) produced widespread changes in glucose utilization, particularly in the extrapyramidal system. Only this dose significantly increased locomotor activity above levels in vehicle-treated controls. Rates of glucose utilization were positively correlated with locomotor activity in the globus pallidus, substantia nigra reticulata, and subthalamic nucleus, and negatively correlated in the lateral habenula.

• Research Organization: National Institute on Drug Abuse, Baltimore, MD (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5822194
• Journal Information: Neuropsychopharmacology; (United States), Vol. 1:2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
COCAINE
BIOCHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
GLUCOSE
METABOLISM
BLOOD PRESSURE
CARBON 14 COMPOUNDS
CEREBRAL CORTEX
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
INTRAVENOUS INJECTION
RATS
SPECIFICITY
TRACER TECHNIQUES
ALDEHYDES
ALKALOIDS
ANESTHETICS
ANIMALS
ANTIDEPRESSANTS
BODY
BRAIN
CARBOHYDRATES
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM AGENTS
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM DEPRESSANTS
CEREBRUM
DRUGS
HEXOSES
INJECTION
INTAKE
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
KINETICS
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
MAMMALS
MONOSACCHARIDES
NERVOUS SYSTEM
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PSYCHOTROPIC DRUGS
REACTION KINETICS
RODENTS
SACCHARIDES
VERTEBRATES
550501* - Metabolism- Tracer Techniques