Differential regulation of neuropeptide Y systems in limbic structures of the rat.

Neuropeptide Y-like immunoreactivity (NPYLI) in the frontal cortex and nucleus accumbens was significantly decreased after acute and multiple administrations of phencyclidine-HCl (PCP). The role of dopamine, serotonin and sigma receptors in these PCP-induced effects was evaluated. Neither the dopamine D1 antagonist SCH 23390 nor the D2 antagonist sulpiride by itself altered cortical neuropeptide systems, but in combination they totally blocked the PCP-induced changes. In contrast, sulpiride alone significantly decreased accumbens NPYLI content and enhanced the PCP-induced decreases, whereas SCH 23390 alone had no effect on accumbens NPYLI levels but did attenuate PCP-induced effects. Neither depletion of serotonin nor blockage of the sigma "receptor" had any effect on PCP-induced changes in either structure. The effects of the selective, noncompetitive N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist MK-801 on cortical and accumbens NPYLI content were similar to those of PCP, suggesting an N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor mechanism in these effects. Administration of gamma-aminobutyric acid-transaminase (GABA-T) inhibitors, gamma-vinyl-GABA (GVG, vigabatrin, MDL 71,754) or aminooxyacetic acid alone had no effect on cortical NPYLI content; however, administration of aminooxyacetic acid alone decreased accumbens NPYLI levels. Co-administration of these GABA-T inhibitors with PCP completely blocked PCP-induced cortical NPYLI decreases and attenuated NPYLI changes in the accumbens. These data suggest that limbic neuropeptide systems are differentially modulated by N-methyl-D-aspartate and dopaminergic activity and that glutamatergic influences on cortical and accumbens NPY systems are mediated, at least in part, by GABAergic mechanisms.