Depletion of striatal somatostatin by local cysteamine injection.

Local injection of cysteamine into rat striatum resulted in a dose-dependent reduction in somatostatin-like immunoreactivity (SLI). The effect was seen at 1 h, and persisted for up to 72 h, but was reversible at 1 week. The maximal depletion of SLI was approximately 50%. Histologic damage was largely confined to the needle tract. Of interest was a depletion of SLI in the contralateral striatum beginning at 3 h and maximal at 72 h. Cysteamine induced depletion of striatal SLI was not accompanied by alterations in dopamine or serotonin metabolism. Cysteamine is a useful pharmacologic tool for local somatostatin depletion.