Effects of systemically administered ceruletide on the in vivo release and metabolism of dopamine in the medial prefrontal cortex of awake, freely moving rats: an in vivo microdialysis study.

The effects of the cholecystokinin octapeptide-related peptide, ceruletide (CER), on the in vivo release and metabolism of dopamine (DA) in the medial prefrontal cortex were examined in awake, freely moving rats, using in vivo microdialysis. Subcutaneously administered CER (200 micrograms/kg) increased extracellular levels of DA, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), and homovanillic acid (HVA), indicating that extracellular levels of DOPAC and HVA may reflect DA release in the medial prefrontal cortex. Bilateral subdiaphragmatic vagotomy markedly attenuated the CER-induced effect, but did not abolish it completely. CER (10(-7) and 10(-10) M), applied locally via the dialysis tube, had no effect on the extracellular levels of either DOPAC or HVA. The CCK-A receptor antagonist, L-364,718 (3 mg/kg, i.p.), completely prevented CER-induced increases in the extracellular levels of DOPAC and HVA. The CCK-B antagonist, L-365,260 (3 mg/kg, i.p.), however, given 1 h before the CER treatment, slightly attenuated the CER-induced increase in the extracellular levels of DOPAC, but not the CER-induced increase in HVA, 60-180 min after the treatment. These findings indicate that systemically administered CER modulates the in vivo release and metabolism of DA in the medial prefrontal cortex. We suggest that systemically administered CER exerts its action on both vagal afferent nerves and the area postrema via CCK-A receptors, thus enhancing the in vivo release and metabolism of DA in the medial prefrontal cortex.