Matsuoka S, Shima F, Suzuki M, Kitamura K, Kato M
Brain Res. 1986 Nov 29;398(2):253-8. doi: 10.1016/0006-8993(86)91484-8.
Unilateral electrolytic lesions restricted to the locus coeruleus (LC) in rats did not produce postural asymmetry or circling behavior, while similar lesions in the dorsolateral pontine tegmentum (DLPT) closely ventral to the LC caused a circling behavior toward the contralateral side. The circling behavior was potentiated by intraperitoneal injection of dopamine agonists, apomorphine or methamphetamine, and was abolished by the dopamine antagonist, haloperidol. Neurochemical analysis using a gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric method was made 4, 10 and 20 days after LC coagulation, resulting in a gradual decrease of noradrenaline level in the frontal cortex on the lesioned side. Dopamine content in the striatum in these rats was not significantly affected. Unilateral lesioning of the DLPT produced no significant change in contents of dopamine of homovanillic acid in the striatum or of noradrenaline in the frontal cortex. These results indicate that the LC is not involved in the circling behavior, without a modulatory effect on the dopamine metabolism in the striatum, whereas the DLPT closely ventral to the LC is responsible for circling behavior by subserving as a descending neural pathway conveying striopallidal function on the contralateral side.
局限于大鼠蓝斑（LC）的单侧电解损伤未产生姿势不对称或转圈行为，而在LC腹侧紧邻的背外侧脑桥被盖部（DLPT）进行类似损伤则导致向对侧的转圈行为。腹腔注射多巴胺激动剂阿扑吗啡或甲基苯丙胺可增强这种转圈行为，而多巴胺拮抗剂氟哌啶醇可消除该行为。在LC凝固后4天、10天和20天使用气相色谱-质谱法进行神经化学分析，结果显示损伤侧额叶皮质中去甲肾上腺素水平逐渐降低。这些大鼠纹状体中的多巴胺含量未受到显著影响。DLPT的单侧损伤对纹状体中高香草酸多巴胺含量或额叶皮质中去甲肾上腺素含量未产生显著变化。这些结果表明，LC不参与转圈行为，对纹状体中的多巴胺代谢没有调节作用，而LC腹侧紧邻的DLPT通过作为传递对侧纹状体苍白球功能的下行神经通路来负责转圈行为。
