Modulation of dopamine uptake in rat nucleus accumbens: effect of specific dopamine receptor antagonists and sigma ligands

The ability of dopamine (DA) antagonists and sigma receptor ligands to alter [H-3]-DA uptake was examined using synaptosomes prepared from the nucleus accumbens of female rats. Pre-incubation with compounds having a high affinity for sigma (rimcazole, haloperidol, and spiperone) receptors produced dose dependent inhibition of H-3-DA uptake, Sulpiride, a pure DA D-2 antagonist had no effect. In contrast, DA uptake was potentiated in response to (+)-3-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-N-(1-propyl)piperidine, a mixed sigma receptor antagonist and DA D-2 receptor agonist. Similarly, SKF-10,047, a selective sigma receptor agonist, and progesterone, a putative endogenous ligand for the sigma receptor, produced significant increases in (3)[H]-DA uptake. These data suggest a potential role for sigma and DA ligands in the regulation of DA uptake in the nucleus accumbens. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.