Influence of cholinergic agents on dopamine release from medial basal hypothalamus

The ability of acetylcholine to influence the stimulation-induced release of [ 3H]dopamine in medial basal hypothalamus was evaluated. A muscarinic facilitation of electrical field-stimulated but not potassium-stimulated release was observed. These data suggest a muscarinic enhancement of dopamine release perhaps via an action at the level of the cell body. These data suggest that observed effects of cholinergic agents on prolactin release may be mediated in part through such a cholinergic-dopaminergic interaction.