Vol. 281, Issue 1, 360-368, 1997

Nonstriatal Dopamine D1 Receptors Regulate Striatal Acetylcholine Release In Vivo¹

Elio Acquas², Catriona Wilson and Hans C. Fibiger

Division of Neurological Sciences, Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, 2255 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, B.C., Canada

The role of dopamine (DA) D1 receptors in the regulation of acetylcholine (ACh) release in the striatum was studied using in vivo microdialysis in freely moving rats. Systemic administration of the full D1 DA receptor agonist A-77636 (4 µmol/kg) increased striatal ACh release by 53% above the base line and decreased DA release by 33%. Local application of A-77636 (10 and 100 µM) by reverse dialysis was without effect on either striatal ACh or DA release. Systemic administration of the D1 DA receptor antagonist SCH 23390 (0.74 µmol/kg) or SCH 39166 (1.42 µmol/kg) blocked the stimulation of striatal ACh release produced by systemic A-77636 (4 µmol/kg). Local perfusion of either SCH 23390 or SCH 39166 did not decrease basal ACh release. Furthermore, when applied locally via the dialysis probe, SCH 23390 (12 µM) or SCH 39166 (50 µM) failed to attenuate the stimulation of striatal ACh release produced by systemic A-77636. Similarly, d-amphetamine (5.42 µmol/kg)-induced increases in striatal ACh release were not modified by simultaneous local perfusion with SCH 39166 (50 µM). These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that D1 receptor activation stimulates ACh release in the striatum. However, because local application of D1 receptor agonists and antagonists fail to influence ACh release, the relevant D1 receptors are not located in the striatum. The use of unphysiological dialysis conditions (high concentrations of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors, high Ca⁺⁺ concentrations and an absence of Mg⁺⁺ in the perfusion fluid) may account for some earlier suggestions that local D1 receptors regulate ACh release in the striatum.