Effects of age and dopamine agonists and antagonists on striatal dopamine release in the rat: an in vivo microdialysis study.

The in vivo microdialysis technique was used to measure the extracellular output of dopamine (DA), 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), homovanillic acid (HVA) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) in adult and aged rats; as well as in response to the perfusion of dopamine agonists and antagonists, high-potassium Ringer solution and 1-methyl-4-phenyl-pyridinium ion (MPP+). The DA basal release before the drug treatment was higher in adult rats compared with the aged animals. The perfusion of dopaminergic drugs (nomifensine, sulpiride and quinpirole) through the probe at 1 microM concentration produced the same effect on DA, DOPAC and HVA outflow in adult and aged rats. 5-HIAA levels were not affected. The application of a high-potassium (60 mM) Ringer solution did not produce any significant difference on DA, DOPAC, HVA and 5-HIAA extracellular content when adult and aged rats were compared. The perfusion of MPP+ (1 mM) for 15 min produced a greater increase in DA release in aged than in adult rats. Greater susceptibility in the adult rats could explain these results.