The cholecystokinin analogue, caerulein, does not modulate dopamine release or dopamine-induced locomotor activity in the nucleus accumbens of rat.

We have investigated the effect of the cholecystokinin (CCK) analogue, caerulein, in the nucleus accumbens on dopamine (DA) release and locomotor activity. Caerulein (10(-9)-10(-4) M) did not affect the resting or K+-evoked release of [14C]DA, although concentrations within this range have been shown to modulate transmitter release in cerebral cortex. When injected bilaterally into the nucleus accumbens, caerulein (30 ng-1 microgram) did not affect spontaneous locomotor activity as compared to vehicle-injected controls. Similarly, bilateral injections of caerulein (1 microgram) into the nucleus accumbens did not modulate locomotor hyperactivity induced by bilateral injections of DA (20 microgram) into the nucleus accumbens. It is concluded that CCK in the nucleus accumbens has no direct effect on dopamine release or dopamine-stimulated locomotor activity.