Toluene induces behavioral activation without affecting striatal dopamine metabolism in the rat: behavioral and microdialysis studies.

We examined the effects of toluene on the release of dopamine (DA) and its metabolites in rat striatum using microdialysis. Intraperitoneal injection of 800 mg/kg toluene significantly increased motor activity in rats, as did methamphetamine (MAP) (1 mg/kg). However, 800 mg/kg toluene did not affect the extracellular levels of DA, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, homovanillic acid, or 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid. This is in contrast to MAP, which significantly increased extracellular DA and decreased the extracellular levels of its metabolites. These results suggest that toluene-induced behavioral augmentation may not be associated with alterations in DA or serotonin neurochemistry such as are associated with MAP-induced behavioral augmentation.