Action of arecoline on the levels of acetylcholine, norepinephrine and dopamine in the mouse central nervous system.

Modifications caused by arecoline (2 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg injected subcutaneously) in the levels of acetylcholine (ACh), norepinephrine (NE) and dopamine (DA) in the mouse cortex and "subcortex" were studied. The animals were killed by microwave irradiation of the head 15 minutes after drug administration. Arecoline 10 mg/kg caused a reduction in levels of ACh in the cortex and "subcortex" at the limit of statistical significance (p 5-10%) and a statistically significant reduction in levels on NE. A statistically significant increase in DA was observed only in the cortex after 2 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg of arecoline.