The effect of sodium γ‐hydroxybutyrate on the metabolism of dopamine in the brain

Abstract

Summary1. Sodium gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB-Na), when given to rats and mice, caused a sleep-like state and a fall in body temperature of about 10°C. 2. GHB-Na produced a dose-dependent increase in the concentration of dopamine (DA) in the brains of mice kept at an environmental temperature of 1820o C or 30-32o C. 3. The concentrations of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenylacetic acid (HVA), the metabolites of DA, were increased in the striatal tissues of rats and mice, after the administration of GHB-Na. However there was a delay of 60 mi before the concentration of HVA increased whereas there appeared to be little delay before the concentration of DOPAC increased.4. When GHB-Na was administered to reserpine-treated animals, no increase occurred in the concentration of dopamine in the brains of mice or rats, or of DOPAC in the rat brain. 5. Reserpine did not prevent the induction of the sleep-like state by GHB-Na. 6. The results presented suggest that the effect of GHB-Na in increasing the concentration of DA requires unimpaired storage mechanisms for the amine.

Dual Effects of Nicotine on Neuroleptic‐Induced Changes of Striatal Dopamine Metabolism in Mice

“…These findings agree with the earlier concepts of the effects of these drugs on the striatal DA metabolism (Gessa et al 1966;Hutchins et al 1972;Westerink & Korf 1976;Di Giulio et al 1978). These findings agree with the earlier concepts of the effects of these drugs on the striatal DA metabolism (Gessa et al 1966;Hutchins et al 1972;Westerink & Korf 1976;Di Giulio et al 1978).…”

Gammahydroxybutyrate (GHB) receptor ligand effects on evoked synaptic field potentials in CA1 of the rat hippocampal slice

“…It is used therapeutically for narcolepsy (Kalra and Hart, 1992), experimentally in a productive model for absence seizures (Bernasconi et al, 1992;Banerjee and Snead, 1995;Snead, 1994), and may be involved in an inherited startle disease (Berthier et al, 1994). It is well documented that pharmacologic concentrations of GHB increase dopamine synthesis, turnover, and release (Vargiu et al, 1966;Spano et al, 1971;Cheramy et al, 1977;Hutchins et al, 1972;Morgenroth et al, 1976;Walters and Roth, 1972). There may be similar effects on serotonin (Waldmeier and Fehr, 1978;Hedner and Lundborg, 1983) and acetylcholine (Giarman and Schmidt, 1963;Ladinsky et al, 1983), although fewer studies address effects on these neurotransmitters.…”

The EFFECT OF Γ‐HYDROXYBUTYRATE ON MOUSE STRIATAL TYRAMINE, DOPAMINE AND HOMOVANILLIC ACID

“…The relatively high doses (500-1000 mg/kg) required to produce anaesthesia caused not only an increase in brain dopamine (Gessa et al, 1966), but also an activation of tyrosine hydroxylase activity (Morgenroth, Walters & Roth, 1976) and increases in 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic and homovanillic acids (Hutchins et al, 1972), and reductions in the firing rate of presumed dopaminergic nigral neurones . Such results indicate that -y-hydroxybutyrate produces changes in dopamine metabolism that are similar to those observed within one day after lesioning the pars compacta of the substantia nigra Faull & Laverty, 1969).…”

“…It has been known for some time that sodium yhydroxybutyrate or its precursor 'y-butyrolactone cause a dose-dependent increase in the cerebral concentration of dopamine and its acid metabolites (Gessa, Vargiu, Crabai, Boero, Caboni & Camba, 1966;Hutchins, Rayevsky & Sharman, 1972) and a reduction in the firing rate of dopaminergic neurones . The present study examines the effect of y-hydroxybutyrate on the interrelation between brain dopamine turnover and the concentration of the p-or m-isomers of tyramine.…”