The effects of cortical ablation on d-amphetamine-induced changes in striatal dopamine turnover and ascorbic acid catabolism in the rat

Dopamine (DA), 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), ascorbic acid (AA) and dehydroascorbic acid (DHAA) levels were determined by HPLC in the striatal synaptosomal fraction and in the whole striatum of rats, whose fronto-parietal cortex had been bilaterally ablated, after a single injection of d-amphetamine (2.0 mg/kg i.p.). d-Amphetamine significantly increased the DHAA/AA ratio in unoperated and sham-operated rats, but failed to increase it in ablated rats, as compared to pertinent saline-treated groups. In the synaptosomal fraction, d-amphetamine significantly decreased the DHAA/AA ratio in unoperated, sham-operated and ablated rats. d-Amphetamine significantly decreased the DOPAC/DA ratio in the whole striatum and significantly increased it in the striatal synaptosomal fraction in all experimental groups. Cortical ablation greatly increased d-amphetamine-induced motor hyperactivity. We conclude that the d-amphetamine-induced increase in AA striatal oxidation requires integrity of the cortico-striatal glutamatergic pathways. Further, AA oxidation occurs in the extracellular space. The cortico-striatal glutamatergic pathways exert an inhibitory modulation on d-amphetamine behavioral effects.