Role of brain amines in learning associated with “amphetamine-state”

✍ Scribed by Mark Roffman; Harbans Lal

• Book ID: 104769082
• Publisher: Springer
• Year: 1972
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 578 KB
• Volume: 25
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0033-3158
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00422501

✦ Synopsis

Conditional avoidance responses acquired under amphetamine were recalled without deficit only when tested under amphetamine ("amphetaminestate" dependent learning). Hydroxyamphetamine was devoid of this property. Dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) but not 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) substituted for amphetamine while reserpine but not syrosingopine eliminated the "amphetamine-state". DOPA and 5-HTP, only when given together, restored the "amphetamine-state" in reserpinized animals. DOPA alleviated the deficit in retention which was caused by methyl-p-tyrosine. 5-HTP alleviated the similar deficit caused by p-chlorophenylalanine. Ch]orpromazine or cyproheptadine antagonized the "amphetamine-state". It is suggested that amphetamine, but not hydroxyamphetamine is capable of producing an asymmetric behavior-controlling state. The "amphetamine-state" is related to the stimulation of central and not peripheral amine-receptors and depends on newly synthesized catecholamines which stimulate central cateeholamine receptors through serotonin modulation in this case.