Effects of chronic estrogen treatment on dopamine concentrations and turnover in discrete brain nuclei of ovariectomized rats

Neurosci Lett. 1981 Feb 23;22(1):69-74. doi: 10.1016/0304-3940(81)90287-1.

Abstract

We investigated the effects of chronic estrogen treatment in ovariectomized rats on the concentration of dopamine in 33 discrete brain nuclei. In order to assess estrogen's influence on dopamine turnover, some of the rats were administered alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine. Estrogen treatment reduced the concentrations of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens septi, striatum, median eminence, nucleus anterior hypothalami, nucleus suprachiasmaticus, nucleus arcuate IV-V, area ventralis tegmenti, interpeduncular nucleus and nucleus interstitialis striae terminalis. Treatment was without effect on dopamine turnover in all areas studied.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brain / drug effects
  • Brain / metabolism*
  • Castration*
  • Dopamine / metabolism*
  • Estradiol / pharmacology
  • Estrogens / pharmacology*
  • Female
  • Methyltyrosines / metabolism
  • Rats

Substances

  • Estrogens
  • Methyltyrosines
  • Estradiol
  • Dopamine