NMDA- and MK801-induced changes in dopamine release are attenuated in kainic acid-lesioned nucleus accumbens of conscious rats: an in vivo microdialysis study

Local application of N-methyl- d-aspartate (NMDA) and a NMDA receptor antagonist, MK801 through the dialysis membrane into the nucleus accumbens (NAC) caused a significant decrease and increase in extracellular dopamine (DA) in the NAC of conscious rats, respectively. These neurochemical changes were significantly smaller in the kainic acid (KA)-lesioned NAC than in the intact NAC. These findings show that locally applied NMDA and MK801 into the NAC modulate DA release mainly through indirect mechanism involving putative GABA neuron of the NAC.