Effects of angiotensin II on dopamine and serotonin turnover in the striatum of conscious rats

Abstract

This study was designed to evaluate the functional significance of angiotensin II (Ang II) receptors identified by previous receptor autoradiography studies to be located presynaptically on terminals of dopaminergic neurones projecting to the striatum. Microdialysis was performed in the striatum of conscious freely moving rats and dopamine and serotonin metabolites measured by HPLC with electrochemical detection. During perfusion with artificial CSF, the major extracellular dopamine metabolite identified was DOPAC with smaller concentrations of HVA. When Ang II (1 μM) was introduced into the dialysis perfusion medium, DOPAC output increased markedly, peaking at 219%, and returned to control ..