Effects of p-chlorophenylalanine on striatal acetylcholinesterase activity and on biogenic amine levels in nuclei raphe and caudate-putamen during physostigmine-induced tremor in rats

Hina Mehta, Bobby Thomas, Kochupurackal P. Mohanakumar

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

14 Scopus citations

Abstract

The biochemical mechanism underlying tremor is unknown. We investigated the effects of p-chlorophenylalanine (pCPA), a serotonin (5-HT) depletor, on the neurochemical processes in nuclei raphe dorsalis (NRD) and caudatus putamen (NCP) paralleling physostigmine-induced tremor in rats. Peak of physostigmine tremor correlated with increase in 5-HT in NRD and NCP, and a decrease in striatal dopamine (DA), as assayed employing high pressure liquid chromotography-electrochemistry. Administration of pCPA caused significant decrease in DA, norepinephrine (NE) and 5-HT levels in both the nuclei, without affecting striatal NE content and acetylcholinesterase activity. pCPA pretreatment significantly inhibited physostigmine-induced tremor and blocked corresponding increase in the levels of 5-HT in NRD and NCP. These results indicate involvement of central 5-HT, but not DA or NE, in the genesis of physostigmine tremor.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)105-108
Number of pages4
JournalNeuroscience Letters
Volume299
Issue number1-2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 16 2001
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Dopamine
  • Motor dysfunction
  • Norepinephrine
  • Serotonin (5-HT) mediation of tremor

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Neuroscience

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