Interactions between p-tyramine, m-tyramine, or beta-phenylethylamine and dopamine on single neurones in the cortex and caudate nucleus of the rat.

p-Tyramine, applied to cortical and caudate neurones with weak iontophoretic currents (0-10 nA), did not usually cause any alteration of base-line firing rate. However, neuronal responses to dopamine (DA) during such weak applications of p-tyramine were greatly enhanced. Cortical neurone responses to noradrenaline (NA) were similarly potentiated, but both cortical and caudate neurone responses to alpha-aminobutyric acid were unaffected by p-tyramine. In addition, weak background applications of DA which did not affect cell firing rate were also without effect on the neuronal responses to the standard application of DA. The responses of cortical neurones to DA were also potentiated by m-tyramine and beta-phenylethylamine applied with weak cationic currents. The results may suggest that trace amines can enhance NA and DA transmission in the central nervous system.