The effect of electric stimulation of caudate nucleus and nucleus accumbens septi on serotonergic neurons in the rat brain.

Nucleus caudatus--putamen (CP) or nucleus accumbens septi (A) were stimulated electrically for 30 min in free moving rats. Immediately or 30 min after the stimulation we studied the level of 5-HTP and DOPA accumulated in the mesencephalon+pons+medulla oblongata, after inhibition of activity of aromatic amino acids decarboxylase by NSD 1015, and intensity of histofluorescence of serotonin in the midbrain raphe nuclei. The electrical stimulation of either structure did not significantly change the content of 5-HTP and DOPA, but stimulation of nucleus accumbens depressed the level of serotonin in the neurocytes of dorsal and ventral raphe nuclei.