Acute effect of nicotine on the striatal dopaminergic system in the rat.

The acute effects of nicotine (1.5 mg kg-1 day-1) on the striatal dopaminergic system have been examined in the rat. Twenty-four hours after nicotine treatment, spontaneous locomotor activity in response to apomorphine or (+)-amphetamine and the binding of [3H]spiperone to striatal particulates were determined. Pretreatment of nicotine did not alter the characteristics of [3H]spiperone binding to striatal dopamine receptors. The nicotine treatment did not affect the apomorphine-induced locomotor activity, however, the (+)-amphetamine-stimulated locomotor activity was attenuated. These results suggest that nicotine acutely alters the presynaptic dopaminergic activity without significantly affecting the postsynaptic dopaminergic function.